WASHINGTON: The Organization of American States (OAS) suspended Honduras on Saturday after a caretaker government refused to reinstate President Manuel Zelaya, who was toppled in a coup.

The OAS took the rare step to suspend one of its members after the interim government ignored an OAS ultimatum by the 34-member body to restore Zelaya. It was the strongest move yet by foreign governments to isolate the caretaker government.

In Central America's first coup since the Cold War era Zelaya, a leftist who took power in 2006 and had been due to leave office in 2010, was ousted by troops and sent into exile last Sunday.