Ambassador rubbishes rumours of US involvement in coup

The US ambassador to Honduras said accusations by former President Manuel Zelaya that the United States was behind the coup that ousted him are "absurd".

Ambassador Hugo Llorens said the United States "had nothing to do with the coup" on June 28, 2009, when the Honduran army hustled Mr Zelaya out of the country for allegedly violating the constitution.

An embassy statement said the United States "had no prior knowledge or participation".

Mr Zelaya made the accusations on Monday in a letter on the coup's anniversary. He now lives in the Dominican Republic.

The United States refused to recognise the interim government that replaced Mr Zelaya. Honduras is now governed by a president elected in previously scheduled elections.