Ousted Honduran president Manuel Zelaya was kept from landing at the country's main airport today because the runway was blocked by military vehicles and groups of soldiers, some of them clashing with a crowd of thousands outside.

The OAS suspended Honduras’ participation in the organisation because of last week’s military coup.

The head of the Organisation of American States said he found no willingness in Honduras’ interim government to restore ousted President Manuel Zelaya.

A top diplomat said he is heading to Honduras to demand the return of the president toppled at gunpoint – a mission he said is likely to meet rejection, bringing diplomatic and economic punishment for the impoverished Central American nation.

Honduras' ousted president Manuel Zelaya has won overwhelming international support as he planned a high-profile return to his chaotic country.

Police and soldiers clashed with thousands of protesters outside Honduras’ national palace, leaving at least 45 people injured, as world leaders from Barack Obama to Hugo Chavez demanded the return of a president ousted in a military coup.

The US and Cuba, trading their warmest words in half a century, built momentum towards renewed ties, with President Barack Obama declaring he “seeks a new beginning” – including direct talks – with the island’s communist regime.

Fidel Castro said US rules allowing unlimited family travel and remittances to the island were “positive, although minimal”.

Nicaragua lambasted the US government and the head of the Organisation of American States, accusing both of trying to destabilise President Daniel Ortega’s government by criticising local elections.

Haitians voted in overwhelming numbers in an election aimed at restoring democracy in the impoverished nation, swamping officials who struggled to cope with the large turnout.

A CROWD of 10,000 protesters chanting “Get out Bush!” swarmed the streets of the Argentine resort of Mar Del Plata yesterday, hours before the hemisphere’s leaders sat down to debate free trade, immigration and job creation.