Rival rallies for and against Honduras' post-coup government continued into their fifth day on Thursday, with at least three cities seeing large gatherings, local media reported.

Juan Barahona, leader of the United Workers Front (FUT), led marches backing Manuel Zelaya, the nation's president who was seized from his bed by hooded and heavily-armed soldiers on Sunday, and forced to board a plane to Costa Rica. The FUT has joined with other Zelaya sympathizers to create the People's Resistance Front.

Pro-Zelaya protests were seen in northern city San Pedro Sula and in the capital, Tegucigalpa. At least two pro-Zelaya demonstrators have been killed, with at least 60 others injured and over 270 arrested.

Several stores in the center of Tegucigalpa have reported losses because they have been unable to open since Sunday.

Supporters of Roberto Micheletti, who was sworn in as president just hours after Zelaya was ousted and forced into exile, have created the Civic Democratic Unit, which staged a sit-in in the capital on Tuesday, rallied in southern city Choluteca on Wednesday and is holding rallies in San Pedro Sula on Thursday.

Zelaya has said he will return to Honduras, accompanied by Jose Miguel Insulza, the secretary-general of the Organization of American States, and regional heads of state.

The Organization of American States has adopted a resolution demanding that Zelaya be reinstated. The coup has been widely condemned by nations and multilateral bodies across the world.

Source: Xinhua