The United States has withdrawn the diplomatic visas of four members of Honduras' de facto government. The move appears to be designed to put pressure on the regime in Honduras.

The US State Department says all diplomatic visas issued to members of the de facto government and their families are being reconsidered. The department argues the visas were given to them as members of ousted President Manuel Zelaya's government.

The ousted president is in Nicaragua after his second attempt to enter Honduras failed on Friday. He has undertaken to stay in Nicaragua for a week in order to give the Honduran Congress the opportunity to end the political crisis which has been going on for months. Mr Zelaya's family has been given permission to visit him in Nicaragua.

photo: Manuel Zelaya (flickr/compartuser)