Clinton calls for full democratic order in Honduras

(STATE, CLINTON, HONDURAS, ZELAYA, UNITED, ORDER, EXPULSION)

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Monday the United States was working with other nations in the hemisphere to restore full democratic and constitutional order in Honduras after the ouster of President Manuel Zelaya.
Clinton said the Honduran military`s removal of Zelaya on Sunday had "evolved into a coup."
Under U.S. law, no aid -- other than for the promotion of democracy -- may be provided to a country whose elected head of government has been toppled in a military coup. Asked if the United States was now considering cutting off aid to Honduras, Clinton shook her head no.
She later said the United States was assessing the situation in Honduras and possible final outcomes before determining the next steps.
Clinton called the military arrest and expulsion of Zelaya "unfortunate events" and said it was a test of the inter-American system`s ability to support and defend democracy and constitutional order in the hemisphere.
"The United States has been working with our partners in the OAS to fashion a strong consensus condemning the detention and expulsion of President Zelaya and calling for the full restoration of democratic order in Honduras," said Clinton, referring to the Organization of American States.
(Reporting by Deborah Charles, Editing by Sandra Maler)
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