Honduras is a very small Central American republicwith a population of 7.5 million and an area about the sizeof Louisiana. Christopher Columbus landed in the countryon one of his later voyages, and the nation is still the homeof seven distinct indigenous tribes, some of them descended from the Mayas who created a significantculture in this part of the world more than a thousand years ago.

Honduras, originally a Spanish colony, receivednominal independence in 1821, but has struggled witholigarchal rule since then. President Manuel Zelaya of Honduras was removed from office several days ago by the Honduran supreme courtand Congress.