Honduras' de facto government said it would join new talks to end the country's political crisis later on Wednesday, but insisted it would not allow ousted President Manuel Zelaya's return to power, Reuters reported.
Carlos Lopez, the interim government's foreign minister, said it would not give in to international demands for Zelaya's reinstatement in the third round of talks mediated by Costa Rican President Oscar Arias.
"This hypothesis of a possible return of Mr. Zelaya to occupy the presidency is completely ruled out," Lopez said.
Zelaya was seized and sent into exile in his pajamas on June 28 after Honduras' Congress and Supreme Court accused him of violating the constitution by trying to extend presidential term limits.
Talks to broker an end to Central America's worst crisis in almost two decades broke down over the weekend, but Arias has apparently brought a new proposal to the table.
Honduras' de facto leader Roberto Micheletti, installed by Congress after Zelaya's ouster, insists he will not allow his foe to return to serve out the rest of his term -- the central sticking point in mediation efforts.
Zelaya, in exile in Nicaragua, has said that he will travel back to Honduras as early as Thursday even if there is no deal with the de facto government and despite its threats to arrest him.
The United States is worried Zelaya's return could spark violence. His previous attempt to land in the country was thwarted by the military and one protester was killed by soldiers.
Arias was expected to make changes to proposals that were rejected by Micheletti, but the United States and Latin American leaders have insisted that Zelaya be reinstated.
In the Honduran capital, several thousand supporters of the interim government marched peacefully in white and waving blue and white national flags.
Around 500 Zelaya supporters staged their own march on the outskirts of Tegucigalpa to demand his return.