Honduras' president ousted in military coup

The announcement was made at a parliament session that began with the reading of a resignation letter that Zelaya said was false.

    The letter, read out by secretary of the legislature, Jose Alfredo Saavedra, said that Zelaya had resigned due to "serious health problems."

    But later in the day, speaking at a joint press conference with Costa Rican President Oscar Arias Sanchez in San Jose, Zelaya said "I have not resigned."

    Zelaya said he was kidnapped and flown to Costa Rica against his will and he did not sign a letter of resignation.

  Honduras' Supreme Court issued a statement backing the armed forces, saying that the coup was "actions taken based on rule of law."

    Honduras was due to hold a national referendum on Sunday aimed to clear the way for Zelaya's re-election.

    Zelaya, who was elected in November 2005 to a non-renewable four-year term, was set to step down in January, 2010.

    He had sought to revise the constitution through a referendum to allow him to seek another term, which aroused strong opposition from the parliament, the army and the supreme court.

    Honduras' Presidency Minister Enrique Flores Lanza said on Sunday the cabinet was launching a campaign of "peaceful civil resistance" to bring President Manuel Zelaya back to office.

    Several countries as well as regional and international organizations denounced the military coup and called for a respect for the rule of law in the country.

    Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said if a new Honduran government is sworn in after the coup, he will "bring them down." He said if Venezuela's envoy to Honduras was harmed or troops entered the Venezuelan embassy, "we would have to act militarily."

    Cuba condemned the military coup and demanded Zelaya's immediate return to office. "I denounce the criminal, brutal character of this coup," said Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez.

    The European Union issued a unanimous condemnation of the coup and echoed the OAS' call for Zelaya's return to power.

    Immediately after the coup, U.S. president Barack Obama called for all actors in Honduras to "respect democratic norms, the rule of law and the Pan-American Democratic Charter", Kazinform cites Xinhua. See www.chinaview.cn for full version.