The coup was condemned throughout the Americas. U.S. President Barack Obama joined other regional leaders in calling for a peaceful return of Zelaya to office.

The Honduran National Congress defiantly announced that Zelaya was out, and its members named congressional leader Roberto Micheletti the new president on Sunday afternoon.

The Honduran Supreme Court also supported the removal of Zelaya, saying that the military was acting in defense of democracy.

Zelaya, a leftist ally of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, told reporters that he was woken by shouts and gunshots early Sunday. While still in his pajamas, said he Honduran president, soldiers took him to a waiting air force plane that flew him to Costa Rica. The coup was mostly peaceful, though tanks and soldiers occupied streets in Tegucigalpa.