Brazil says it will not comply with a demand from interim authorities in Honduras to define the status of ousted leader Manuel Zelaya within 10 days.
Mr Zelaya took refuge in the Brazilian embassy in Tegucigalpa after sneaking back into the country on Monday.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said the embassy was protected by international law.
Meanwhile the interim government denied entry to a group of four diplomats seeking to mediate in the crisis.
The group, some of whom were representatives of the Organization of American States (OAS), had been sent to lay the groundwork for mediation efforts between the two sides.
The OAS suspended Honduras in July after Mr Zelaya was ousted, and government spokesman Rene Zapeda told the Associated Pres the diplomats' visas were revoked in retaliation for this. read more
