washington/tegucigalpa unite state friday back re-election honduran president juan orlando hernandez despite widespread misgive vote count prompt opposition candidate describe bid presidency lose cause honduran electoral tribunal declare hernandez winner nov. 26 election last weekend amid strident opposition protest vote count impoverish central american country major hub drug traffic vote tally initially clearly favor opposition candidate salvador nasralla center-leftist swing favor incumbent 36-hour delay unite state weigh nasralla pessimistic chance win support honduras claim interview reuters nation supreme court electoral tribunal hernandez camp maintain path victory international level note organization american state oas call new elections resolve dispute nationally think lose cause tell reuters internationally confident oas understand great fraud honduras take action repeat elections early day nasralla appear ready bow race say interview tv network france tv political career situation practically decide tell network long anything politics people 80 percent favor continue fight unite state follow mexico latin american countries support hernandez reliable u.s. ally u.s. state department congratulate hernandez say honduras pursue long-term effort heal political divide country enact much-needed electoral reform spokeswoman heather nauert say statement honduras election tribunal declaration hernandez favor last week spark violent protest honduras oas call new elections reject honduran government nasralla back former president manuel zelaya leftist oust 2009 coup propose referendum re-election bar constitution time zelaya say friday nasralla long member alliance nasralla say need party membership anymore president elect hondurans say long make sense belong alliance streets honduran capital tegucigalpa major cities largely calm friday protest clear arm force mid-week 27 people die clash accord local human right group cofadeh state department call side refrain violence wish challenge result use legal mean government ensure security service respect right peaceful protesters also call electoral tribunal transparently fully review challenge file political party hernandez lead military crackdown gang central american country honduras notoriously high murder rate slide since take power 2014. nasralla television host travel washington week urge unite state recognize vote senior state department official say wednesday government see evidence would alter vote outcome nasralla say u.s. decision reflect washington strategic concern leftist government honduras afraid lose honduras tell local television u.s. back re-election honduran president despite vote controversy