Honduras given ultimatum

Latin American leaders gave Honduras 72 hours to restore Manuel Zelaya to the presidency or face expulsion from the region's major grouping, as Washington added to the pressure on coup leaders by formally suspending military contact.

Jose Miguel Insulza, Secretary-General of the 34-member Organisation of American States, said: "We need to show clearly that military coups will not be accepted. We thought we were in an era when military coups were no longer possible in this hemisphere."

The ultimatum from the OAS prompted the ousted leader to delay plans to return home.