Honduras Opposition Leader Withdraws From Election Negotiations

Honduras' former presidential candidate Salvador Nasralla is withdrawing from negotiations with the government regarding the outcome of last year's presidential elections, which were mired by widespread allegations of fraud.

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Nasralla said he "trusted the Organization of American States, the United Nations and the United States for trying to find a political dialogue; however, after all the meetings I observed that the government of Juan Orlando Hernandez has no real political will for solving the electoral crisis created by the fraud."

The outspoken government critic denounced the fact several young opposition leaders are still being held by authorities after the opposition marches staged in November and January in protest against the apparent electoral fraud.

Nasralla vowed to maintain his position as leader of the Opposition Alliance Against The Dictatorship, as said the organization refuses to recognize the re-election of Juan Orlando Hernandez.

Large demonstrations have persisted since late November, to which Hernandez's administration has responded with brutal force.

The United Nations attributes 16 deaths to the military crackdown on protesters, but human rights organizations say the government is responsible for upwards of 35 deaths and arresting at least 1,350 people, many of whom remain in jail.