Colombia reiterated its support to ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya on Wednesday, calling him the only "constitutional president of the Republic of Honduras."

In a foreign ministry statement, the Colombian government demanded an "immediate, definite and unconditional" restoration of the constitutional power to the president.

The Colombian government also called for respect for Zelaya's return to Honduras.

Colombia, together with other Andean countries like Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador and Nicaragua, opposes the overthrow of the president, the statement said.

Earlier in the day, Zelaya said he would postpone his plan to return to Honduras after the Organization of American States (OAS) gave the country a 72-hour ultimatum to restore his power as president. He had said to return to Honduras on Thursday.

Honduran soldiers stormed the presidential palace and flew Zelaya into exile in Costa Rica early Sunday. Later, the country's legislature voted to appoint Roberto Micheletti, head of the legislature, as acting president to serve out Zelaya's term, which ends in January.

The United Nations, the OAS and many other countries have condemned the military uprising and refused to recognize Micheletti's government.

Source: Xinhua