Coup divides Honduras over choice of leader

Tegucigalpa: A military coup has divided Honduras between two leaders - one recognised by world bodies and another backed by the country's congress, courts and military.

Presidents from around Latin America were gathering in Nicaragua for meetings yesterday on how to resolve the first coup in Central America in at least 16 years, while the European Union offered to help start talks between the two sides.

The Obama administration and European governments denounced the coup, but Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez took centre stage in the region, casting the dispute as a rebellion by the region's poor.

"If the oligarchies break the rules of the game as they have done, the people have the right to resistance and combat, and we are with them," Chavez said in Nicaragua.

Troops with riot shields surrounded the presidential palace on Monday and armoured military vehicles were parked in front.

But soldiers made no attempt to clear away about 200 pro-Zelaya protesters who were burning tyres and other debris, as well as blocking streets with trees and billboards.

There is a deep rift between the outside world - which is clamouring for the return of democratically elected, but largely unpopular President Manuel Zelaya - and congressionally designated Roberto Micheletti.