Obama Will Not Use US Clout To Return Ousted Honduran Presiedent

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U.S. Cautious on Calling Honduras a "Coup"

Washington Post: Obama Called Military Ouster Illegal, But Clinton Stopped Short of Formally Branding

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said the United States government was holding off on formally branding it a coup, which would trigger a cutoff of millions of dollars in aid to the impoverished Central American country.

The Obama administration has had cool relations with Zelaya, a close ally of Venezuela's anti-American president, Hugo Chávez.

While U.S. officials say they continue to recognize Zelaya as president, they have not indicated they are willing to use the enormous U.S. clout in the country to force his return.

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