Tegucigalpa, July 21, SPA -- The Honduran de-facto regime Tuesday broke off diplomatic relations with Venezuela, whose president Hugo Chavez has stood by President Manuel Zelaya since his unceremonious ouster andexpulsion in late June. The move represented an escalation in the crisis. The Organizationof American States (OAS) has suspended Honduras' membership toprotest the ouster of Zelaya, who was democratically elected, and tooppose his replacement by Roberto Micheletti. Attempts at mediation by Costa Rica President Oscar Arias endedwithout agreement on Sunday and could resume late Wednesday. The post-coup government Tuesday demanded that Venezuela withdrawall of its diplomatic personnel within 72 hours. Deputy ForeignMinister Martha Lorena Casco said that Honduras would also withdrawits ambassador from Caracas. Micheletti charges that Chavez has been meddling in the internalaffairs of Honduras. Micheletti on Sunday rejected Arias' proposal toallow Zelaya back to head a government of national reconciliationuntil elections which would be moved up to October, saying it alsointerfered with Honduras' internal affairs. Zelaya has announced he will try again to return to Honduras onFriday. In the days after his ouster, he tried to land in Hondurasonly to find the airport runway blocked by military troops. Chavez declared at the beginning of the crisis on June 28 that hewanted to bring down the post-coup government in order to returnZelaya to power. OAS Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza and Arias have warned ofcivil war if agreement is not reached on the governance crisis.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/686518