"Hondurans have begun voting in an election held amid threats by Donald Trump to cut aid to the country if his preferred candidate loses. Honduras could be the next country in Latin America, after Argentina and Bolivia, to swing right after years of leftwing rule. Polls show three candidates neck-and-neck in the race to succeed President Xiomara Castro, whose husband, Manuel Zelaya, also led the country before being toppled in a 2009 coup. Trump's favourite is 67-year-old Nasry Tito Asfura of the rightwing National party."
"His main challengers are 60-year-old lawyer Rixi Moncada from the ruling Libre party and 72-year-old TV host Salvador Nasralla of the Liberal party. Polls opened at 7.00 am (1300 GMT) for 10 hours of voting, with the first results expected on Sunday. Trump has conditioned continued US support for one of Latin America's poorest countries on Asfura winning. If he [Asfura] doesn't win, the United States will not be throwing good money after bad,"
Honduras is holding a closely contested presidential election with three candidates nearly tied as voters cast ballots. Nasry Tito Asfura, the 67-year-old rightwing National party candidate, is backed by Donald Trump. Rixi Moncada of the ruling Libre party and TV host Salvador Nasralla of the Liberal party are main challengers. Trump warned that continued US support depends on Asfura's victory and said the United States will not keep funding if Asfura loses. Trump also announced a pardon for former president Juan Orlando Hernandez, who is serving a 45-year US prison sentence for cocaine trafficking. Hondurans are divided over US intervention and potential immigration consequences.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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