Honduras imposes curfew as leader nears border

Just across the border in Nicaragua, deposed President Manuel Zelaya led a swarm of reporters and security forces to the edge of the Honduran frontier.

But he stopped just short of crossing into Honduras where officials vow to arrest him despite vows to return to his homeland soon and restore himself to power.

Wearing his trademark white cowboy hat, Zelaya told reporters he was forced to act on his own after talks failed to reach a negotiated settlement with the interim government for his reinstatement.

Thousands of Zelaya's backers flocked to border town of El Paraiso, where they clashed with security forces who fired tear gas. Police reported one demonstrator was slightly injured. El Paraiso is across from Las Manos.

A Honduran military helicopter swooped by but stayed in Honduran territory.

Witnesses told local Radio Globo that police also fired live ammunition at the crowd. Police spokesman Daniel Molina confirmed only that officers had used tear gas.