The United States has welcomed an announcement by Honduras' de facto leader Roberto Micheletti that he plans to step down for a week at the end of this month, which will coincide with the presidential elections. A spokesperson for the State Department said Mr Micheletti's leave of absence would give attempts to break the country's political stalemate "some breathing space".

Mr Micheletti came to power in a coup that toppled President Manuel Zelaya in June. Mr Micheletti says he may be absent from his public duties between 25 November and 2 December, so voters can focus on the elections. The poll is scheduled for 29 November.

Mr Zelaya, who has been hiding at the Brazilian embassy since September, has dismissed the announcement as "a whitewash". A US brokered pact between the two rivals reached in late October collapsed after a few days. Since then talks aimed at forming a coalition government have been suspended.

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