The interim¹ government of Honduras has ordered all Argentine diplomats² to leave the country within three days.

洪都拉斯临时政府下令所有阿根廷外交人员在三天之内离开这个国家。

The interim government of Honduras has ordered all Argentine diplomats to leave the country within three days.

It said the move was in response to the expulsion（开除，驱逐） of its ambassador last week by Buenos Aires, one of the strongest critics of June's military-backed coup³.

The Honduran ambassador was told to go because of her public support for the overthrow⁴ of President Manuel Zelaya.

In a separate development, US officials held talks in Washington with a delegation⁵ from the interim government.

The meeting, held at the headquarters of the Organisation⁶ of American States (OAS), was aimed at working "toward restoration（回复，归还） of democratic and constitutional power in Honduras", State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said.

Mr Zelaya was ousted⁷ and exiled amid a power struggle over his proposals for a public consultation⁸ on constitutional change.

His critics said the move was aimed at removing the current one-term limit on serving as president and paving the way for his re-election.

After Mr Zelaya's removal Congress Speaker Roberto Micheletti, constitutionally second in line to the presidency⁹, was sworn in as interim leader.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the US, which supports Mr Zelaya's return to office, continued "to believe in the need for a negotiated solution" to the crisis.

'Strict reciprocity'

For the second time since 28 June, Mr Micheletti's government ordered the expulsion of foreign diplomats in a row over the ousting¹⁰ of Mr Zelaya.

Venezuela's envoys¹¹ have also been told to leave but have so far refused, saying they will not recognise an order by the country's interim leadership.

The latest order came five days after Argentina expelled the Honduran ambassador, Carmen Eleonora Ortez Williams, at Mr Zelaya's request.

The Honduran foreign ministry¹² said the decision was made on the basis of "strict reciprocity（相互性，相互作用）".

Diplomatic relations will now pass through the Israeli embassy.

Buenos Aires supports the position of the OAS, which has condemned¹³ Mr Zelaya's removal and demanded his reinstatement.

A visit by an OAS delegation of six foreign ministers was postponed¹⁴ last week after the interim government said it did not want the group's secretary-general, Jose Miguel Insulza, to accompany them, saying he lacked objectivity（客观性）.

Meanwhile, a delegation（代表团） from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights is currently in Honduras to investigate reports of repression¹⁵（抑制，制止） against Mr Zelaya's supporters following the coup.