TEGUCIGALPA, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- The Honduran de facto government announced on Wednesday its withdrawal from the Bolivarian Alliance of the Americas (ALBA).

    De facto Minister of the Presidency Rafael Pineda Ponce said that the decision was made at a meeting of the ministers' board, and will be presented to the National Congress for final approval.

    "Today (Wednesday) it will be sent to the National Congress. The decision was made yesterday night at the ministers' board with an agreement signed by (de facto) President Roberto Micheletti," Ponce said.

    According to Ponce, the decision was taken because Honduras has been mistreated by other countries in the ALBA.

    Ponce said that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has had a "disrespectful treatment" for Honduras.

    The ALBA was created in 2004 as a parallel organization to the Free Trade Alliance of the Americas. It consists of Venezuela, Cuba, Bolivia, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Honduras, Dominica, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

    Honduras joined the ALBA on Aug. 25, 2008 during the administration of President Manuel Zelaya, who was ousted in a political-military coup on June 28 this year.