De facto Honduran President Roberto Micheletti Thursday tried to check further reduction of U.S. aid to the country by citing its potential harm to the Honduran people.

When addressing a national broadcast, Micheletti played down the importance of the meeting between ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya and U.S. Secretary of State in Washington on Thursday.

"We are citizens of a sovereign country, proud of defending democracy. Everybody knows we still face the incomprehension of those, who hastily condemned us without investigating Honduras' reality before June 28," Micheletti said.

Zelaya was deposed by soldiers in a coup on June 28 and flown to Costa Rica.

Micheletti said, "Hospitals, schools and highways in Honduras depend on generous U.S. aid and we are very thankful."

He said if the United States imposes more economic sanctions against Honduras, it "will only harm the Honduran people."

Micheletti urged Hondurans to keep firm and united to fight for what he called the priceless freedom and justice.

"Honduras will not be a land of tyrants, neither a shelter of disgrace," he added.

After Zelaya was forced from office, the United States suspended visas for Hondurans and part of its economic aid to the country.

(Xinhua News Agency September 4, 2009)