Tegucigalpa (Honduras), Sep 22 (DPA) Ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya returned Monday to the Central American country and had taken refuge in the Brazilian Embassy in Tegucigalpa.

Earlier, the de facto government had denied his presence amid conflicting reports as to his precise whereabouts.

From New York, Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim confirmed that Zelaya was in the Brazilian Embassy in Tegucigalpa, and said that Brazil hopes to achieve 'a peaceful and quick solution for Zelaya's current situation'.

'I spoke personally to Zelaya and I welcomed him onto Brazilian territory,' Amorim said.

The ousted president, who had been expected to speak before the UN General Assembly in New York this week, spoke to Venezuelan-based television channel Telesur from the embassy. He said 'thousands' of his supporters were gathered outside the building.

'It is time for reconciliation, for meeting each other again so we can design the path that allows Honduras to get back the peace and quiet it needs so much. We are going to seek dialogue, we believe it is the best path,' Zelaya said.

Roberto Micheletti, the former Congress speaker designated as president after Zelaya's ouster, had earlier denied that Zelaya was back in the country at all.

Past attempts by Zelaya to return to his country have ended in standoffs. Micheletti has long insisted that he would be arrested if he were to set foot in Honduras, and charges have been filed against him for treason and corruption.

Zelaya was removed from office by a military-backed coup June 28, but he continues to be recognised by the international community as the country's legitimate leader.