Newly-appointed Honduran acting President Roberto Micheletti said on Sunday the country's armed forces are ready to cope with any external threats.

In response to criticism by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, Micheletti said the military had done what they should to defend the dignity of the country's constitution, brushing aside allegation that the army had staged a military coup.

The Honduran government has been fully prepared to respond to all possible threats from "any forces or groups," he added.

Hundreds of troops stormed the presidential residency in Honduras' capital Tegucigalpa in the early hours on Sunday. Zelaya was taken onto a plane and exiled to Costa Rica.

Honduras' congress named speaker Roberto Micheletti as the interim president, who announced a curfew.

Source: Xinhua