Manuel Zelaya, who was ousted on Sunday from Honduras' presidency, left El Salvador Friday night after a whistle-stop visit, according to news reaching here.

Zelaya, who arrived from Panama, met briefly with El Salvador's President Mauricio Funes and left on a private plane, Salvadorian presidency communication minister David Rivas said, without specifying where Zelaya went.

Earlier on Friday, Zelaya spoke to Salvadorian broadcaster Radio Cadena Mi Gente, calling on "all Honduran communities, especially those with a conscience, to organize and be ready because we are going to defend our rights as citizens, but peacefully."

He called on Hondurans not to allow themselves to be defeated by the armed forces and what he called "a few power-hungry politicians."

Zelaya is planning to return to Honduras this weekend, a week after hooded and heavily armed troops seized him from his bed in Honduras' presidential palace and forced him to board a plane to Costa Rica.

Roberto Micheletti was later appointed president by the legislature after the reading of a resignation letter from Zelaya, which Zelaya denounced as fake.

The Organization of American States (OAS) has given the post-coup government until noon on Saturday to restore Zelaya to power, or face expulsion. OAS Secretary-General Jose Miguel Insulza arrived in Honduras on Friday to make arrangements with Micheletti, who has publicly refused to allow Zelaya's reinstatement.

Source: Xinhua