The rare decision was made at an emergency meeting of the 35-member group in Washington.

It comes ahead of Mr Zelaya's expected return home on Sunday, accompanied by several Latin American leaders.

The new government has threatened to arrest him.

The OAS approved suspending Honduras by 33 votes to zero, with Honduras itself not voting.

It was the first time the organisation had taken such a measure since Cuba was suspended in 1962, when it allied itself with the USSR.

Mr Zelaya was forced to leave the country by the military as he pressed on with plans to hold a non-binding public consultation on June 28, to ask people whether they supported moves to change the constitution.

On Saturday, he again said he intended to defy his country's new government by returning home.

Mr Zelaya also warned the new administration of interim leader Roberto Micheletti that the international community had turned against them.

The Honduran interim government says it acted within the law and has the backing of the majority of the population.