World Leaders Condemn Arrest of Honduran President

June 28, 2009 12:47 p.m. EST

Tegucigalpa, Honduras (AHN) - World leaders reacted quickly Sunday morning to condemn the reported arrest of Honduran President Manuel Zelaya.

Terming the military action a "coup d' etat," Venezuelan President Hugo President called on President Barack Obama to act, saying that the U.S. President "has much to do."

Jose Miguel Insulza,, secretary general of the Organization of American States, "severely" condemned the move, according to La Prensa.

On Friday, OAS members approved a resolution calling for the creation of a special commission "with a view to analyzing the fact and contributing to broad national dialogue aimed at finding democratic solutions to the current situation."

Miguel Moratinos, the foreign minister of Spain speaking for the European Union, called for the immediate restitution of Zelaya.

UN General Secretary Ban Ki-moon called on Honduran officials to "act with full respect for the rule of law and democratic institutions," the BBC reported.

Zelaya was arrested Sunday morning by troops after Zelaya said he planned to go through with a constitutional referendum previously declared illegal.

Details surrounding his arrest were unclear.

A Honduran radio station said the president had been forced into exile, possibly being flown on the presidential plane to Venezuela, according to the BBC.

Al Jazeera said an eyewitness reported "that between five and six in the morning local time about 100 to 200 soldiers surrounded his home in the centre of the capital and three vans drove up to his home and took him. A neighbor said that [the president] came out and the army shot at him, about five shots."

Zelaya was reportedly seized about an hour before voting was scheduled to begin on a referendum on whether he should get a second term. The Honduran constitution limits presidents to one four-year term.