Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has called for President Manuel Zelaya to be immediately restored to office in Honduras.

He was speaking at the United Nations General Assembly in New York and called on the UN Security Council to discuss the crisis in Honduras as a matter of urgency.

Mr Zelaya was ousted three months ago and sent into exile. However, he returned in secret to Honduras on Monday and is sheltering in the Brazilian embassy in the capital Tegucigalpa.

The de facto leader of Honduras, Roberto Micheletti, says he is willing to hold talks with the deposed president. However, his offer is conditional on Mr Zelaya accepting the result of new presidential elections scheduled for 29 November, which he refuses to do.

Mr Zelaya in Tegucigalpa (EPA)