Micheletti rejects U.S. demand he resign by Jan. 15

TEGUCIGALPA, Jan. 6 -- Honduras post-coup de facto leader Roberto Micheletti on Wednesday firmly rejected the U.S. demand that he leave office before Jan. 15.

"Washington should respect the sovereign decisions of our people," said Micheletti, who has been serving as interim president of the Central American country since a coup in June 2009 which ousted then President Manuel Zelaya.

Honduras' President-elect Porfirio Lobo Sosa said earlier on Wednesday that Washington was proposing Jan. 15 as the deadline for Micheletti to quit to pave the way for Lobo's inauguration on Jan. 27.

U.S. State Department official Craig Kelly is now on a visit in Honduras trying to reestablish the democratic and constitutional order in the country, promote national reconciliation and help normalize its relations with the international community.

Micheletti said during a recent interview that he would not attend the swearing-in ceremony of Lobo on Jan. 27.