However, he secretly returned to the Honduran capital, Tegucigalpa, Monday and sought refuge at the Brazilian embassy.

The UN Security Council Friday condemned any acts of harassment by the de facto Honduran government against the Brazilian embassy in Tegucigalpa.

Brazil's Foreign Minister Celso Amotim appeared before the 15-nation council at UN headquarters to appeal for the safety of the embassy personnel. He said the de facto government in Honduras has restricted staff movement, adding that food and clothing have to be brought in by humanitarian groups.

'It is against the Vienna conventions' that protect the inviolability of foreign embassies, Amorim said.