Mercosur summit denounces Honduran interim government, www.chinaview.cn 2009-07-25

ASUNCION, July 24 (Xinhua) -- The South American Common Market (Mercosur), a regional trading bloc, strongly condemned the June 28 coup in Honduras on Friday and refused to recognize the legitimacy of the country's interim government.

Mercosur members issued a joint statement on Friday, demanding the immediate restoration of public order and democracy in Honduras.

The statement referred to the interim government headed by Roberto Micheletti as "illegitimate" and refused to recognize any election it may organize as a solution to the country's crisis after the ousting of President Manuel Zelaya.

"The constitutional and legitimate government in Honduras is the one led by President Manuel Zelaya," the statement said.

It also paid tribute to international efforts in finding a peaceful solution to the Honduran crisis.

Mercosur's 37th summit was held from July 23-24 in Asuncion, capital of Paraguay.

Uruguayan President Tabare Vazquez, who took over the organization's presidency from his Paraguayan counterpart Fernando Lugo at the summit, said he will design new policies for the bloc during his tenure to overcome new challenges in the region.