Ousted President Manuel Zelaya has set off in a motorcade for Honduras in a new attempt to retake power and overturn a military coup that has become Central America's biggest political crisis in two decades.
Wearing his trademark cowboy hat, the leftist leader mounted a jeep in the Nicaraguan capital Managua and headed north for the Honduran border followed by a convoy of supporters and journalists.
Mr Zelaya, overthrown on June 28th and forced into exile, says he will try to cross into Honduras tomorrow, despite a threat of arrest by the de facto government which toppled him.
"I hope you'll join me in the return of a president legitimately chosen by the people and illegally overthrown by a fascist force," he said before leaving Managua.
Trying to keep Mr Zelaya's supporters away, the interim government declared an all-night curfew along the border area and the defence ministry warned it would not be responsible for the security of people caught up in any violence.
Soldiers set up check points on roads near the border. One woman said soldiers had stopped her bus, which was carrying several dozen Mr Zelaya supporters headed for the Nicaraguan border on Thursday and told them to get off.
Mr Zelaya had upset the ruling elite, which accused him of trying to seek re-election and moving the country closer to Venezuela's leftist President Hugo Chavez.
The United States and Latin American governments have demanded Zelaya be reinstated but Honduras' de facto rulers are refusing to bend to the pressure.
"The rule of law dictates that Mr Manuel Zelaya cannot return to Honduras as president. From the point of view of Honduran law, this matter is closed," said Martha Alvarado, the de facto administration's deputy foreign minister.
It was unclear exactly when and where Zelaya planned to enter his homeland. He said he would spend Friday in northern Nicaraguan border towns then head for the border tomorrow.
An attempt earlier this month to return in a Venezuelan plane was thwarted when the military blocked the runway and a young pro-Zelaya protester was killed in clashes with troops.
Negotiations in Costa Rica over resolving the crisis have run into deep trouble.
The government that took over after the coup agreed to consult with Congress and the Supreme Court on a new proposal drawn up by mediator Costa Rican President Oscar Arias and including Zelaya's reinstatement.
But it later threw cold water on hopes for a breakthrough.
"I don't think the Supreme Court or the state prosecutor's office or Congress are going to change their criteria. I think they will maintain their position against Manuel Zelaya's return to power," said a pro-coup negotiator.
Reuters