Ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya says he intends to return to his country this week after de-facto leader Roberto Micheletti rejected Costa Rican proposals for a compromise.

Honduras' ousted President Manuel Zelaya speaks during a press conference at the Honduran embassy in Managua, Tuesday, July 21, 2009. Zelaya was ousted by a military-backed coup in Honduras on June 28. [Esteban Felix/CCTV/AP Photo]

At a news conference in Nicaragua, Zelaya said that if he is killed on his return, the head of the Honduran armed forces will be held responsible.

Ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya said, "After 72 hours, I'll return to Honduras. To return to Honduras to find solutions. A peaceful return but a return to the right we all have to resist oppression...If something happens to me on the way to Honduras, before the international community, before the Hondurans, before our conscience, I speak to my children, my wife, my family my countrymen and all my patriots. He who is responsible for my assassination and my death will be General Romero Vásquez Velásquez. He and only he can order that there be sharp shooters."

Zelaya said he had sent a letter to US President Barack Obama. He named the army officials and lawmakers who allegedly planned his ouster. Zelaya said he asked Obama to take economic action "against those who conspired and executed this coup."

(CCTV July 23, 2009)