UN chief urges Honduras authorities to respect rule of law after election

UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres Tuesday called on authorities in Honduras to uphold the rule of law and respect human rights following the presidential election.

In a statement from his spokesperson, the Secretary-General said that he was concerned about recent violence stemming from the November 25 poll, which was decided by a small margin.

"The Secretary-General calls upon the country's political leaders, and particularly the presidential candidates, to exercise their leadership with responsibility in this crucial moment for the future of Honduras," the spokesperson said.

He encouraged the presidential candidates to resolve their differences through dialogue and the mechanisms established by the Electoral Law.

The Nov. 26 vote has been marred by accusations of electoral fraud, sparking violent protests, curfew and growing international concerns over the situation in Honduras. Enditem