World community reacts to Honduras coup

International condemnation of the coup in Honduras was led by The UN secretary general. He said he was "deeply concerned" about the arrest and forced exile of the country's president, Manuel Zelaya.

Photo: World community reacts to Honduras coup

Ban Ki-moon criticised Zelaya's arrest and expressed "strong support" for Honduras' democratic institutions. He "welcomes the prompt diplomatic efforts of the Organisation of American States, whose Permanent Council is holding a special meeting this morning," a spokesman for Ban said in a statement on Sunday.

Ban urged "the reinstatement of the democratically elected representatives of the country and full respect for human rights", and the safety of Zelaya, his family and government,Aljazeera.net reports.

The coup which ousted and exiled President Manuel Zelaya was also criticized by ministers at an emergency SICA meeting. The called it a "brutal tread" on democracy and the rule of law and urged the Honduras' supreme court to restore Zelaya to power immediately, saying that they would not recognize anyone or any government rising from the coup, Xinhua reports.

Analogously reacted Honduras coup Former Cuban president Fidel Castro, he called the coup "a suicidal error" and said there was no room for negotiations with its leaders. Cuba condemned Sunday's military coup in Honduras as "criminal, brutal" and demanded the immediate return to office of deposed leftist President Manuel Zelaya, Reuters.com reports.