The countries of Non- Aligned Movement (NAM) condemned coup d'etat in Honduras, saying they support the immediate restoration of the ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya, said a statement issued by NAM summit secretariat on Sunday.

The overthrowing of Zelaya constitutes a flagrant violation of the constitutional and democratic order of that country, affecting democracy, human rights and the rule of law, the statement said.

The heads of state and government of NAM countries supported the demands made by the international community on the immediate and unconditional restoration of the legitimate and constitutional government of Zelaya in Honduras, it added.

They welcomed the call to recognize no government than that of the constitutional President Zelaya, and called on the continuation of all regional and multilateral efforts aimed at the restoration of the democratically elected government of Honduras, in accordance with the UN General Assembly resolution.

Zelaya was ousted late last month, when hundreds of armed and hooded soldiers broke into the presidential palace and seized him from the bed. They forced the president aboard a plane and sent him to Costa Rica.

Hours later, congress speaker Roberto Micheletti was appointed interim president. Micheletti said the presidential elections will go ahead as scheduled on Nov. 29 and he will hand over power to the new president on Jan. 27, 2010.

The senior officials' meeting of 15th NAM summit continued on Sunday in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. Delegates to the meeting are discussing a wide range of political, economic and social issues among NAM member states and they are expected to form a final document to submit to the summit on July 15-16 for adoption.

(Xinhua News Agency July 12, 2009)