Honduras' de facto leader Roberto Micheletti says he is planning to step down briefly for a week at the end of this month coinciding with presidential elections.

Mr Micheletti, who came to power in a coup that toppled President Manuel Zelaya in June, says he may be absent from his  public duties between 25 November and 2 December. The poll is due to due take place on 29 November. Mr Micheletti says he wants voters to focus on the elections. Mr Zelaya, who has been hiding at the Brazilian embassy since September, dismissed the announcement as "a whitewash". Mr Zelaya said  Mr Micheletti had to go forever. A US-brokered pact the two rivals reached in late October collapsed after a few days. Since then talks aimed at forming a unity government have been suspended.

Honduras' de facto leader Roberto Micheletti (Photo: EPA)