The Andean Community of Nations (CAN) on Monday condemned Sunday's military coup in Honduras during which Honduran President Manuel Zelaya was ousted and forced into exile in Costa Rica.

CAN Secretary General Freddy Elhers of Ecuador told media in the Peruvian capital of Lima that the bloc is monitoring the situation in an effort to contribute to the restoration of democracy.

The CAN said in a statement that full respect for democratic institutions is indispensable for civilized political dialogue, and the use of military force to impose any political point of view must be condemned.

The CAN's four members -- Peru, Colombia, Ecuador and Bolivia -- had already expressed their rejection of the events in Honduras separately on Sunday.

Also on Monday, the Central American Integration System (SICA) nations issued a declaration backing Zelaya and announced the suspension of financing from its bank, the Central American Bank for Economic Integration, until Zelaya returns to power, according to news reaching here from Nicaragua's capital Managua.

"All SICA nations should suspend political, financial and sporting meetings with Honduran officials named by the illegitimate government of that nation," the declaration said.

Meanwhile, the SICA recalled its ambassadors for consultations, a step that can lead to the full withdrawal of ambassadors, and Honduras' immediate neighbors, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala, announced their cross-border trade with the country would be halted for 48 hours.

Source: Xinhua