Ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya has been invited to address the UN General Assembly, the assembly president said on Monday.

"I have sent a letter to the president of Honduras, Jose ManuelZelaya, to come to the United Nations and address the General Assembly as soon as possible and give us an update report on events in his country," D'Escoto Brockmann said.

D'Escoto made the announcement as he opened an urgent plenary session of the General Assembly to discuss the situation in Honduras.

The assembly president called the military coup "an outrageous attack on Honduran democracy," and urged the 192-nation body to consider ways to ensure "a peaceful restoration of the legitimate government of President Zalaya in the hours and days ahead."

The Honduran army ousted and exiled President Zelaya, 56, on Sunday in the first military coup in Central America since the Cold War, triggered by his bid to make it legal to seek another term in office, reports said.

In a statement issued on Sunday, UN Secretary-general Ban Ki-moon expressed deep concern about the latest development in Honduras, calling on all Hondurans to make efforts to peacefully resolve their differences.

Ban urged the "reinstatement of the democratically elected representatives of the country and full respect for human rights, including safeguards for the security of President Zelaya, members of his family and his government."

Source: Xinhua