Brazil, Mexico call for immediate return of ousted Honduras leader_English

Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim (R) holds a press conference with his Mexican counterpart Patricia Espinosa in Brasilia, Brazil, July 23, 2009. Brazil and Mexico have demanded an immediate return of deposed Honduran President Manuel Zelaya to power.(Xinhua/Radiobras)
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BRASILIA, July 23 (Xinhua) -- Brazilian and Mexican foreign ministers on Wednesday demanded the immediate reinstatement of ousted Honduras President Manuel Zelaya.

Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim and his Mexican counterpart Patricia Espinosa said in a joint statement after a meeting in Brasilia that their two countries support the resolution of the Organization of American States (OAS) which requires the return of the ousted Honduran president.

"The foreign ministers reiterated the contents of the resolutions of the OAS and the United Nations regarding the situation in Honduras and reaffirmed the position of their governments to reject the coup d'etat in that country," the statement said.

At a news conference after their meeting, Amorim said there's still room for Costa Rican President Oscar Arias to find a negotiated solution to the crisis in Honduras.

For her part, Espinosa called for an "immediate and unconditional" return of Zelaya.

Zelaya was ousted and forced into exile in a coup on June 28, after he angered the army, the legislative and the judiciary by insisting on a constitution amendment that would allow him to seek re-election.

His demand for reinstatement has been rejected by the post-coup interim government.