Honduras' Foreign Minister Patricia Isabel Rodas arrived in Mexico City early on Monday, a day after a military coup in her country, Mexico's Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

"The Mexican government offered diplomatic and consular protection and the support needed to ensure Dr. Rodas' physical integrity and personal safety via our diplomatic and consular representation," the statement said.

Soldiers broke into the official residence of Honduran President Manuel Zelaya and forced him to board a plane to Costa Rica early on Sunday. On Sunday afternoon, the nation's legislature, the Congress, appointed Robert Micheletti as interim president, after reading a letter, which Zelaya said was fake. In the letter Zelaya resigned and tendered the resignation of his cabinet.

Mexican President Felipe Calderon traveled to Managua to take part in the Central American Integration System (SICA) summit that begins there on Monday, the statement added. Rodas will travel to the meeting with Calderon, and Zelaya will also attend the SICA meeting representing Honduras.

Mexico was among the many nations and institutions that condemned Sunday's military coup and Zelaya's forced exile to Costa Rica. In its Sunday statement, Mexico called for "a swift return to the rule of law, institutionality and democratic values" in Honduras.

Speaking to the press in Mexico City before boarding a plane toManagua, Rodas said that Micheletti's swearing-in as interim president was clearly illegal and that Zelaya had not signed any resignation letter.

She added that Zelaya's resignation was "unthinkable," and said she was confident that democratic normality would soon return to Honduras.

Source: Xinhua