MADRID – The Spanish government has barred entry to 10 senior officials associated with the de facto regime that took power in Honduras after the June 28 ouster of elected President Mel Zelaya.

Affected by the prohibition are the speaker of the Honduran Congress; two members of the Supreme Court, including the chief justice; the attorney general, and six Cabinet ministers appointed by “interim” President Roberto Micheletti, the Spanish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Spain “reiterates its support for the mediation effort of the president of Costa Rica, Oscar Arias, and hopes that these measures contribute to the re-establishment of constitutional normality in Honduras,” the ministry said.

The statement went on to note that foreign ministers from the European Union’s 27 member-states agreed Tuesday to prepare new “restrictive measures” against Honduran officials seen to be blocking a negotiated solution to the crisis sparked by the coup.

“Until a peaceful settlement is found, the EU will stand ready to take further restrictive measures, including targeting those members of the de facto government who are seen to be blocking progress on a negotiated solution based on the San Jose Accord,” the bloc’s External Relations Council said.

Drafted by Costa Rica’s Arias, the accord calls for Zelaya to return and lead a national unity government for the few months left in his term, and for a political amnesty that would protect both the coup plotters and the ousted head of state, who stands accused of various offenses by the de facto regime.

While Zelaya has accepted the plan, Micheletti flatly rejects the reinstatement of the elected head of state.

The European bloc earlier decided to limit contacts with the de facto government and to freeze 65.5 million euros ($95.5 million) in aid to Honduras.

Zelaya’s ouster has also led the EU to freeze negotiations on an association accord with Central America, including Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Costa Rica and Nicaragua.

The European Commission announced last week that the EU would not send observers to the Nov. 29 general elections in Honduras, citing the absence of conditions for the vote to be held within a framework of democracy and freedom.

The U.S. government has said that if the Micheletti regime remains intransigent on the question of Zelaya’s reinstatement, Washington will not recognize the winner of the presidential vote. EFE