U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is wrapping up her six-nation Latin American tour Friday in Guatemala, where she holds a key meeting with Central American leaders on Honduras and other issues.
Clinton meets Friday with Guatemala's President Alvaro Colom, the new Honduran President Porfirio Lobo, and other leaders.
Thursday in Costa Rica, Clinton said the Obama administration intends to restore aid to Honduras after it was suspended following the military-backed coup that ousted President Manuel Zelaya last June.
Speaking alongside Costa Rican President Oscar Arias, Clinton said the Honduran government has taken steps to move the country forward as called for in international mediation following the coup. She also said Mr. Lobo's election last November was found to be free, fair and legitimate.
Clinton said she has urged other Latin American governments to recognize the Lobo government.
While in Costa Rica, Clinton also attended a ministerial meeting on democracy and economic development in the Americas.
Mr. Zelaya was forced out of office in a military-backed coup June 28 and sent into exile. He made a surprise return to Honduras in September and took refuge in the Brazilian embassy in Tegucigalpa under the threat of arrest.
Mr. Zelaya flew to exile in the Dominican Republic January 27, the day Mr. Lobo took power. Mr. Zelaya's critics said he was ousted for trying to illegally change the constitution to extend his term in office.
The U.S. suspended millions of dollars in aid to Honduras and canceled the U.S. visas of Honduran officials following the coup.
Costa Rican President Arias took part in efforts to end the political turmoil over Mr. Zelaya's removal.
Some information for this report provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
