Thousands of supporters of Manuel Zelaya on Thursday continued to protest the military coup that ousted the president and drew worldwide condemnation.

Meanwhile, an explosion was heard late Thursday near the Tegucigalpa airport. There were no immediate reports of casualties.

Zelaya's supporters demanded that the interim government led by Roberto Michelleti return power to the deposed president. Some of the supporters clashed with the military.

Micheletti supporters also took to the streets and accused the international community and neighboring Latin American countries of "unfair" condemnation of the coup and sanctions against Honduras.

A pro-Zelaya protestor rallies in front of the UN Bureau to Honduras in Tegucigalpa, capital of Honduras, July 2, 2009. (Xinhua/David De La Paz)
The protesters demanded that the international community stop interfering in their domestic affairs and voiced opposition to Zelaya's plan for returning to Honduras this weekend.

Zelaya was forced onto a plane and sent to Costa Rica by the military early Sunday. That action came after a referendum scheduled for the same day on changing the country's constitution put Zelaya at odds with the military, the courts and the legislature.

Meanwhile, the situation in commercial areas of central Tegucigalpa largely returned to normal Thursday. A few automobiles could be seen on the streets, but traffic was constantly disturbed by protesters distributing political leaflets.

Heavily armed soldiers patroled the capital city in military trucks and Red Cross ambulances were at the ready in case of any violence.

Bank operations in the city's financial areas remained normal, though security forces were beefed up.

Supplies in the city's largest supermarket La Colonia were reduced but orders remained normal, store workers said.

Ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya waves to the supporters upon his arrival in San Salvador, capital of EL Salvador, July 2, 2009. (Xinhua/Oscar rivera)
At the same time, ousted President Zelaya arrived in El Salvador late Thursday after attending the inauguration of Panama's new president Ricardo Martinelli in Panama City.

Zelaya said Thursday that Argentine President Cristina Fernandez, Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa and Guatemalan Nobel Peace Prize laureate Rigoberta Menchu have been invited to join him when he returns to Honduras this weekend.

That sets up a potentially explosive conflict with local officials who have vowed to have Zelaya arrested on charges ranging from corruption to treason.

Souce: Xinhua