The Organization of American States (OAS) gave the coup leaders in Honduras three days to reinstate deposed president Manuel Zelaya, or the country will face suspension.

"If within 72 hours the reinstatement doesn't happen, the (OAS)assembly ... will meet again to suspend Honduras," OAS chief Jose Miguel Insulza told reporters Wednesday.

OAS members held meetings in the Washington headquarters Tuesday and decided to take diplomatic and political steps necessary to restore democracy in Honduras, Insulza said.

Zelaya, toppled and exiled by the military Sunday, gained wide international support.

The UN General Assembly on Tuesday adopted a resolution condemning the military coup in Honduras and demand an immediate restoration of Zelaya's government.

Zelaya said Tuesday that he will return to Honduras Thursday, flanked by the president of the UN General Assembly, the secretary-general of the Organization of American States (OAS) and presidents of Argentina and Ecuador.

Honduran Attorney General Luis Alberto Rubi said Zelaya would be arrested "as soon as he sets foot on Honduran soil" and he could face 20 years in prison.

Rubi said Zelaya's arrest warrant include 18 separate crimes such as abuse of power and treason.

"If Zelaya loves Honduras he should not come," said the coup-installed president Roberto Micheletti in a Tuesday interview with local radio station HRN.

Source: Xinhua