Excellent news from Honduras, where the coup against President Zelaya has finally failed. The leaders of the military-backed take-over have agreed to sign a power-sharing agreement ahead of elections.

The coup government was met with sustained opposition from supporters of democracy in Honduras and from an international campaign in support of Zelaya’s restoration.

It is a significant defeat for anti-democratic forces in central and Latin America, which would have been emboldened by a successful coup in Honduras. It indicates that is possible to forge a new future for the region in which the old pattern of right wing dictators blocking the aspirations of the majority can end for good. Opponents of the coup declared, “At 125 days of struggle, nobody here surrenders!”

It also shows the importance of people around the world, including in this country, adding their support when events like this occur and offering practical solidarity. The islolation of the coup was an important point of pressure on Micheletti’s military-backed regime.

More here.

UPDATE, 2/11/09: Since this was originally posted events continue to move at a pace. There remains a danger that coup’s supporters will seek to avoid implementing the agreement in full, and Micheletti’s backers in the USA – such as Otto Reich -  are holding out against Zelaya’s reinstatement.  Further evidence of the need for international support for the defeat of the coup.