WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – The Organization of  American States said yesterday it would keep pressure on  coup leaders that ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya last  month, while supporting dialogue to end the crisis.

Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza said the OAS would  continue to apply “strong sanctions” on the interim government  led by Roberto Micheletti and support mediation brokered by  Costa Rican President Oscar Arias.

Fresh talks are set for Saturday.
“It is important to keep calm,” Insulza told a meeting of  the OAS permanent council in Washington, adding the regional  grouping did not “have to do much more … than keep applying  pressure and so allow the process to bear fruit.”

Zelaya was ousted by the military on June 28 and Micheletti  installed by the Honduran Congress, presenting Central America  with its worst political crisis since the Cold War era.

The coup and impasse in the impoverished exporter of  bananas, coffee and textiles has also complicated the foreign  policy of U.S. President Barack Obama, who has sought to  improve ties with Latin America.

The OAS, a hemispheric pro-democracy body with limited  actual powers, gave an ultimatum for the reinstatement of  Zelaya and suspended Honduras from membership on July 4 after  the interim government refused to restore him.

Zelaya, who says the coup is a power grab by rich political  elites who oppose him, gave his own blunt ultimatum this week,  saying Saturday’s talks in Costa Rica were the last chance for  the interim government to return power to him immediately.