U.N.; Hondurans hiring mercenaries

NEW YORK, Oct. 11 (UPI) -- Landowners in Honduras have been hiring ex-members of a Colombian paramilitary group for protection from political violence, U.N. officials say.

The U.N. Working Group on the use of mercenaries said Friday at least 40 former members of Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia have been brought to Honduras since President Jose Manuel Zelaya was forced to leave the country in June. They have been retained by landowners fearful of fighting between Zelaya's supporters and those of the de facto government.

Sources have also said the government has recruited another 120 mercenaries from countries around Honduras, the Working Group said.

Honduras is a signatory to the International Convention on mercenaries, which bars their employment by governments.