The government set up after the coup is headed by Micheletti, who was next in line under presidential succession rules.

Since the coup, the country has been suspended from membership in the Organisation of American States (OAS). It has generally been isolated in the Americas and subjected to economic sanctions.

Jose Miguel Insulza, secretary-general of the OAS, said in a statement from Washington, 'I want to make a call to calm for all parties involved in this process, and to tell the authorities of the de facto government that they have to take responsibility for the security of President Zelaya and of the Brazilian Embassy.'

In Washington, US State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said the US embassy in Tegucigalpa was trying to determine the purpose for Zelaya's visit and urged both sides to exercise restraint and refrain from taking steps that would provoke violence.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez - a close ally of Zelaya - said in Caracas that the ousted president returned to his country 'over land, crossing rivers, risking his life with barely four companions'.

'Congratulations, you have done something heroic that will go down in the history of Honduras and Latin America,' Chavez said, addressing Zelaya.

Costa Rican President Oscar Arias - acting as mediator in the Honduran crisis - had drafted a proposal, known as the San Jose Accord, to end the standoff, but it has been rejected by the interim Honduran government. It calls for Zelaya to be reinstated as president to head a government of national reconciliation until his constitutional term ends in January.

A presidential election had been scheduled for Nov 29 prior to Zelaya's ouster.