Honduras' de facto leader, Roberto Micheletti, said today he has no intention of confronting Brazil or entering its embassy where ousted President Manuel Zelaya has taken refuge to avoid arrest.
"We will do absolutely nothing to confront another brotherly nation. We we want them to understand that they should give him political asylum (in Brazil) or turn him over to Honduran authorities to be tried," Mr Micheletti said.
Mr Zelaya, who was toppled in a June coup, ended almost three months of exile by sneaking back into Honduras last night.
Thousands of supporters who gathered around the embassy after his return were dispersed when police and soldiers fired tear gas into the crowd, injuring 20 people.
Security forces are now surrounding the embassy. The Brazilian government and the United States have warned Honduras against entering the compound and violating international sovereignty.
Mr Micheletti said he would not storm the embassy to arrest Mr Zelaya, accused by the Congress, Supreme Court and the military of corruption and trying to violate the constitution to allow for presidential re-election.
"We will respect international and national law. If (Zelaya) wants to stay there for 5 or 10 years, we don't have any problem with him living there," Mr Micheletti said.
Troops roused Mr Zelaya on June 28th, forcing him at gunpoint on a plane to Costa Rica in a coup that was widely condemned.
Conservative opponents feared Mr Zelaya was moving the country closer to the style of government championed by Venezuela's self-styled socialist President Hugo Chavez.
Since Mr Zelaya's ouster, Mr Micheletti's government has entrenched itself in power ahead of scheduled elections in November.
Analysts said it was in the de facto leader's interest to drag out the conflict, but Mr Zelaya's surprise return puts new pressure on the Mr Micheletti to avoid more violent clashes.
Costa Rican President Oscar Arias tried to mediate a solution to Honduras' worst political crisis in decades by drafting an agreement that would allow for Mr Zelaya's return to power ahead of the elections. But the de facto government rejected the proposal.
Mr Micheletti rejected international calls for dialogue.
"Zelaya will never return to be president of this country," he said in the interview.
Reuters