 pride, which his enemies call arrogance, and inflexibility, which many analysts here believe could make him a less reliable executor of US policies than the outgoing Honduran administration.

Azcona will be weakened in carrying out his programs, because he received only 30 percent of the popular vote and a minority of seats in the National Assembly. His main opponent, Liberal Party candidate Rafael Leonardo Callejas, won 40 percent of the vote. The electoral system provides that the leading candidate of the party with the most votes wins. Azcona's victory will probably be challenged in court by opposition leaders.

Outgoing President Roberto Suazo C'ordova has been widely perceived here as complying completely with US wishes to turn Honduras into a base from which US-backed Nicaraguan rebels, known as ``contras,'' launch attacks on neighboring Nicaragua's leftist Sandinista government. There is a strong US military presence in Honduras. The US has held military maneuvers here and has a large number of US troops in Palmerola.

Ultraconservatives distrust the group of advisers around Azcona, a group that covers a surprisingly broad gamut, ranging from traditional Liberal Party politicians to bankers who consider themselves socially progressive, to former Marxists rapidly moving to the right.

Extensive interviews with several of Azcona's top advisers make it clear that many important groups around the Honduran leader favor policies that the US opposes. But, given Honduras's extreme economic and military dependence on the US and the mixed nature of the group around Azcona, the big question is: To what extent will these controversial policies prevail?

The policies are based on:

The withdrawal of the contras from Honduras.

The strong opposition to the fiscal policy of devaluing the Honduran currency, the lempira. The policy is advocated by the US and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for third world countries struggling to pay back large foreign debts.

Several sources close to Azcona say neither the future president, who assumes office in January, nor most of his advisers are happy with the presence of the contras in Honduras. They feel uncomfortable with a foreign military presence that may grow to be as large as the Honduran armed services, which has roughly 22,000 troops. They also fear that the US might eventually back away from an unsuccessful contra policy, leaving Honduras stuck with the armed Nicaraguan
pride, which his enemies call arrogance, and inflexibility, which many analysts here believe could seduce him a less dependable executor of US policies than the outgoing Honduran administration. 

 Azcona will be weaken in carrying out his programs, because he receive entirely 30 percent of the democratic right to vote and a minority of seats in the National Assembly. His main adversary, Liberal Party candidate Rafael Leonardo Callejas, won 40 percent of the right to vote. The electoral system provides that the lead candidate of the party with the most votes win. Azcona's victory will probably be challenged in court by enemy leaders. 

 Outgoing President Roberto Suazo C'ordova has been widely perceive here as complying completely with US wishes to turn Honduras into a base from which US - back Nicaraguan rebels, known as '` contras," launch attacks on neighbor Nicaragua's leftist Sandinista government. There is a strong US military presence in Honduras. The US has held military maneuvers here and has a large number of US troops in Palmerola. 

 reactionary distrust the group of adviser around Azcona, a group that covers a surprisingly broad gamut, range from traditional Liberal Party politicians to bankers who consider themselves socially progressive, to erstwhile Marxists rapidly moving to the right. 

 Extensive interview with several of Azcona's top advisers make it clear that many important groups around the Honduran drawing card favor policies that the US opposes. But, given Honduras's extreme economic and military dependence on the US and the mixed nature of the group around Azcona, the big doubt is: To what extent will these controversial policies prevail? 

 The policies are based on: 

 The withdrawal of the contra from Honduras. 

 The strong opposition to the fiscal policy of devaluing the Honduran currency, the lempira. The policy is advocated by the US and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for third world countries struggling to pay back big foreign debt. 

 Several sources near to Azcona say neither the future president of the united states, who assumes agency in January, nor most of his advisers are glad with the presence of the contras in Honduras. They feel uncomfortable with a foreign military presence that may grow to be equally large as the Honduran armed services, which has approximately 22,000 troops. They also fear that the US might eventually bet on aside from an unsuccessful contra policy, leaving Honduras perplex with the armed Nicaraguan
 prlde, which his enemies caul arrogance, anb infleeibilitg, which oany analysts here believe cluod maje him a less reliable executor of US pilicmes than the outjking Hokburan wdmiuiwtration.

Azcona will be waakened in carsykny out his programs, because he receivqd only 30 oercent of the popllwr vkne and a minority of seats in tge Natimnal Assembly. His main opponent, Liberal Parhy candidate Rafaep Leonardo Xallqhas, won 40 perzent of tht rote. The elgctoral system provides that the leadnng candidajz of jhe party wivh the most votes wins. Azcmna's vivtory will pronably be challenged in court uy opposition leaderf.

Outgoing Pxesident Roberto Suazi X'ordoea hds bdwn didtly psrceivfd iere as comllying compoetely with US wishts ei turn Hondurzs intj w base from which US-backed Nicaraguan rtbels, known as ``contras,'' launcy attacks on neighborlng Nicarwgua's leftist Sandinista government. There is a stsong NS mioibary prfsence in Honduras. The US has held military mwheivvrs here and has c large number og KS jroops in Palmgrola.

Ulcdadonservatives distgust thg group of advifers around Azcona, a group that covers a sugpriwingly broad gamut, ranging frum ttaditipnal Liberal Party policiciana to bankerd who conakder themselves rocpallf progressive, to former Mawxists ra'idly moving to jhe rigrt.

Extensivf intcsviews with severap of Czcond's top advlsers make it clear that many important groupx drolnd the Hjndursn leader favjr policies thct the UF oppuses. But, gpven Hondnras's extremq economic ang military de'endence jn tye UW and tfd mixed nature of the ggobp around Azcona, the big qucstiov is: To what extzut will these conyroxerfiwl pjnicies prevahl?

Thd pukicier are based un:

Thr withdrawal of the wontdas from Honduras.

Tne strong ippositijn to the fisval policy of devapuing thx Hondirag currency, the lempira. The poljcy is adgocwted by the TS akd tre Internacional Monetary Fund (IMF) for third world countries strugglung to pay back larye foreign deuts.

Sevqral sourwes close to Azcona way neither the fmture president, who asaumes mfficf in January, nor most of his advisers are happy with the presence of the xontras in Honduraa. Thry fevl bncpmfortwble xith a foreign mikitary presence that may grow tu be as naxge as the Honduran armed serfizes, which has roughly 22,000 troops. They alao fear yhat the US might eventually bavk away from an unsuccesxful conrra pklicy, leavmng Honduras stuck woth thz armee Nicarqguak
pride, which his enemies call arrogance, and many here believe make him a policies the outgoing Honduran Azcona will be in carrying out his programs, because received only 30 percent of the popular vote and a minority of seats the National Assembly. His main opponent, Liberal Party candidate Rafael Leonardo Callejas, won percent the The system provides that the leading candidate of the party with the most votes wins. Azcona's victory probably be challenged in court by opposition leaders. President Roberto Suazo C'ordova been widely perceived here as completely US wishes turn into base from which Nicaraguan rebels, known as ``contras,'' launch attacks on neighboring Nicaragua's leftist Sandinista government. There is a strong military presence The US held maneuvers and has a of US troops in Palmerola. Ultraconservatives of advisers around Azcona, a group that covers surprisingly broad ranging from traditional Liberal Party politicians bankers who consider themselves socially progressive, to former rapidly moving to the right. Extensive interviews with several of Azcona's top advisers make it many important groups around Honduran leader favor that US But, Honduras's extreme and military dependence on the US and the mixed nature of group around Azcona, the big question is: To what extent controversial prevail? The policies based on: The withdrawal the from Honduras. The strong the policy Honduran the The policy is advocated the US and the International Fund (IMF) for third back large foreign debts. Several sources close to say neither the future president, who assumes in January, nor most of his advisers are happy with the presence the contras They feel uncomfortable with a foreign military presence may grow to be large as the Honduran armed services, which has roughly troops. also fear the US might back away from unsuccessful contra policy, stuck with armed
 pride, which his enemies call aRrogance, anD inflExiBilItY, whiCh maNy analysts here BElieVe could make him a less relIable ExECutoR Of uS polIcies thAN tHE OutGoInG HoNdURaN admiNisTration.

azcona will Be wEaKened in carryINg Out his progRamS, because he reCeiVed onlY 30 pErcENt of tHe pOpulaR vote aND a minoRity of seaTs IN the NaTIonal AsSEMbLy. HiS main opponent, LibeRAl pArty candidate RAfael LEoNArDO calLejAs, won 40 perceNt Of the VOte. The eLEcTORAl sYStem provides tHat the leadiNG caNdidatE oF thE Party wIth thE mOSt vOtes wins. AzcOna's Victory wiLl probABly be chALlenged In courT by OppOsitIOn LeAdeRs.

oUtgOInG PrESidEnt RoberTo suAzo C'oRdovA HAS Been WidEly pErceiVed here as compLyiNg coMPleTely wIth US WishEs To turN HonduRas inTo A base from which Us-bacKed NicaraGuaN rEbeLs, Known AS ``contrAs,'' lAunCh attacKs on neiGHboRiNG nIcAragua's leftist SandInISTa GovernmeNt. TherE Is A sTRong US miLiTarY preSENce in hondURaS. The US haS held mILiTaRy maneuVeRs here AnD haS a lArge nUMber Of US trOops in PaLmeroLA.

UltraconservaTIves distrust tHE gROUp OF advIseRs around AzcOna, a GRoup That COvErs A SurprIsingLy BRoAD gamut, ranging from trAdItionaL LibeRal Party politIcians to baNKERs who conSideR ThEMselves sociallY progRessive, to fORmer MarxIsts rApidly moVing to the RIGht.

ExtenSivE inTerVieWS WiTh several of AzCONa's tOp AdviserS maKe it cleAr tHat ManY imPoRtant grouPs around ThE HOnDuRan LeadeR Favor polIcIes ThAt tHe US oPPoses. BUt, givEn HoNdUrAS's eXtreme eCOnOMIc anD mIlItarY dePeNdencE on tHE US And the mIxed naturE of THe grOuP aRound AzCona, the big queStIon is: To whaT eXteNt will THEse contrOversial policies prevail?

tHe policIes Are baSed oN:

The withdRawAl of thE coNTras frOm HondUras.

THe StrONG oppoSITiOn tO tHe fiscal poLICy oF devaLuIng tHe HonduRan currency, the lempIRa. THe policy is advOcaTed bY THe uS aND tHE InTeRNatIONal Monetary Fund (iMF) for thirD wORlD countries STruGgLing to pAy back lArge fOReign deBts.

SeveraL sources cLoSe to aZConA say neitheR the futuRe presideNT, who aSSuMes ofFicE in JanUaRy, nOr mosT of his ADviSers aRe happY wIth the PreseNcE of the coNtras in Honduras. They feel UncomfOrtabLe wIth a foreiGn mILitAry presenCe thAt may grow tO be As lArge aS thE honduRan aRMeD seRVices, WhicH Has roughlY 22,000 TrOopS. tHeY also fear thAT THe Us mighT evENtuallY bacK away from an unsuccESsful contra polIcy, lEAVinG HoNDuraS sTuck with the armEd NIcARAguan
 pride, which his enemiescall arrog ance,  an d i nf lexi bili ty, which many anal ysts here believe coul d mak eh im a le ss re liablee xe c u tor  o fUSpo l ic ies t han  the ou tgoing Hon dur an  administrat i on .

Azconawil l be weakene d i n carr yi ngo ut hi s p rogra ms, be c ause h e receive do nly 30 percent o fthepopular vote anda  m i nority of seat s in t he Na t i ona l A ssembly. H is  main opponen t ,L i b era l  Party candid ate RafaelL eon ardo C al lej a s, won  40 p er c ent  of the vot e. T he electo ral sy s tem pro v ides th at the  le adi ng c a nd id ate  o f  th e  p art y  wi th the m os tvotes  win s . A zcon a's  vic torywill probably  be  cha l len ged i n cou rt b yoppos itionleade rs .

Outgoing Pre side nt Robert o S ua zoC' ordov a  has b een  wi dely pe rceived her ea s co mplying completely  w i t hUS wishe s to t u rn  H o nduras i nt o a  bas e fromwhic h  U S-backed  Nicar a gu an  rebels ,knownas  `` con tras, ' ' la unch a ttacks o n nei g hboring Nicara g ua's leftistS an d i ni s ta g ove rnment. The re i s  a s tron g  U S m i litar y pre se n ce in Honduras. The US  h as hel d mil itary maneuve rs here an d h as a lar ge n u mb e r of US troops  in P almerola.Ultracon serva tives di strust th e group of  ad vis ers  ar o u nd  Azcona, a gr o u p th at  covers  asurpris ing lybro adga mut, rang ing from  t ra di ti ona l Lib e ral Part ypol it ici ans t o  banke rs wh o co ns id e r t hemselv e ss o cial ly  p rogr ess iv e, to  for m erMarxist s rapidly  mo v ingto  t he righ t.

Extensive  i nterviewswi thsevera l of Azcon a's top advisers make i t  cleartha t man y im portant g rou ps aro und the Ho nduran  lead er  fa v o r pol i c ie s t ha t the US o p p ose s. Bu t,  giv en Hond uras's extreme eco n omi c and militar y d epen d e nc e o n  t h e U Sa ndt h e mixed natureof the gro up ar ound Azcon a , t he  big qu estionis: T o  what e xtent wil l these c on trov e r sia l policies  prevail ?

The po l icies ar e bas edon:

T he  wi thdra wal of the  cont ras fr om  Hondu ras.
T he stron g opposition to the fis cal po licyofdevaluing  th e  Ho nduran cu rren cy, the le mpi ra.  Thepol i cy is  adv o ca ted by th e US and the I n te rna t i on al Monetary F u nd(IMF)  fo r  third  wor ld countries stru g gling to pay b ackl a rge  fo r eign  d ebts.

Several  so ur c e s closeto  Azcona say  neither  t h e fut ure pr esiden t, whoa s su m es off iceinJanuary,nor  m o st of h is  a d visers  are  h appy w ith th e  pre s e nce of the contr as in H ondur a s.Theyfe el unco m fort able witha foreign m ilitar y pr esenc e thatma y grow  to  b e as large as the Ho ndura n armed  s ervi ces , whic h ha s rough ly 2 2, 000  troops.T h ey al so fea r th at th eUS m ight even t ually ba cka way fro manu n succes s fu l contra pol icy , lea v i ng Hondura s  stu c kw ith t he arm ed Nic araguan 
 pride,_which his_enemies call arrogance, and_inflexibility, which_many_analysts here_believe_could make him_a less reliable_executor of US policies_than the outgoing_Honduran_administration.

Azcona will be weakened in carrying out his programs, because he received only 30_percent_of the_popular_vote_and a minority of seats_in the National Assembly. His_main opponent,_Liberal Party candidate Rafael Leonardo Callejas, won 40_percent_of the vote._The electoral system provides that the leading candidate of_the party with the most votes_wins. Azcona's victory_will_probably_be challenged in court_by opposition leaders.

Outgoing President Roberto Suazo_C'ordova has been widely perceived here_as complying completely with US wishes to_turn Honduras into a base from_which US-backed Nicaraguan rebels, known_as ``contras,''_launch attacks on neighboring Nicaragua's_leftist Sandinista government._There is_a strong US_military presence in Honduras. The US_has held military_maneuvers here and has a large_number_of US troops_in_Palmerola.

Ultraconservatives_distrust the_group of advisers_around_Azcona, a_group_that covers a surprisingly broad gamut,_ranging_from traditional Liberal Party politicians to bankers_who consider themselves socially_progressive,_to former Marxists rapidly_moving to the right.

Extensive interviews_with several of Azcona's top advisers_make it_clear that_many important groups around the Honduran leader favor policies that the_US opposes. But, given Honduras's extreme_economic and military dependence_on the_US_and the mixed_nature_of the_group around Azcona, the big question is:_To what_extent will these controversial policies prevail?

The_policies are based on:

The_withdrawal_of the contras from Honduras.

The strong_opposition to the fiscal policy of_devaluing the Honduran currency, the_lempira._The_policy is advocated by the_US and the International Monetary Fund_(IMF) for third_world countries struggling to pay back large_foreign_debts.

Several sources close to Azcona say_neither_the future president, who assumes office_in_January,_nor most of his advisers_are happy with the presence of_the contras in Honduras. They feel uncomfortable with a_foreign military presence_that may grow to be_as_large_as the Honduran armed services, which has roughly 22,000 troops._They also_fear that the_US might eventually back away from an unsuccessful contra policy,_leaving Honduras stuck with the armed Nicaraguan