Zelaya: Brazil embassy in Honduras attacked with gas

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (CNN) - Ousted Honduran President Jose Manuel Zelaya, who has been holed up with supporters at the Brazilian Embassy, said they were victims of a gas attack Friday morning that caused many people to vomit and have breathing difficulties.

A police official told CNN that Zelaya's allegation was a "totally false statement."

Zelaya and his aides said at a news conference that a local public health specialist they identified as Dr. Mauricio Castellano took air samples near the embassy after the attack and determined that the gas contained HCN, an abbreviation for hydrogen cyanide. HCN can cause dryness and burning of the throat, shortness of breath, convulsion, coma and cardiovascular collapse.

Zelaya said he felt irritation in his throat and eyes Friday morning and went outside to get fresh air. When he did so, he said, he noticed that some people were sick.

Andres Tamayo, who was with Zelaya at the embassy and identified himself as a priest, said the chemical attack came from three sources: neighboring houses that have been evacuated, a white truck that was seen near the embassy and a low-flying helicopter.

"This is a terrorist act," Tamayo said.

Journalists, including CNN Correspondent John Zarrella, were kept several blocks away and could not detect any possible gas attack.

Zelaya, deposed in a military-led coup June 28, has been staying at the embassy since secretly returning to Honduras on Monday.

He showed photographs at briefing that he said were of soldiers setting up gas-delivery systems in neighboring yards.

The United Nations Security Council met Friday morning to discuss Brazil's concern over what is happening at the embassy. Brazil called for the meeting several days ago.