"Micheletti won't be in government for very long — only the time needed to improve things in Honduras," said Jorge Illescas, who directs the ruling Liberal Party that both Zelaya and Micheletti represent. "He will leave next January," Illescas added, when the next president takes power following November's election.

Zelaya, a wealthy rancher who moved to the left and allied himself with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez during his presidency, was ousted hours before the referendum was to start. His opponents feared the vote would enable him to push for constitutional changes to remain in office and move the country toward socialism.

The Organization of American States, which is based in Washington, spent last week trying vainly to pressure the new government into letting Zelaya resume his post.

Diplomats with the United Nations, the OAS, the United States and European countries worked behind the scenes Monday trying to find some common ground with Micheletti, who has vowed not to negotiate until "things return to normal."

OAS Secretary-General Jose Miguel Insulza said he was "open to continuing all appropriate diplomatic overtures to obtain our objective."

In Washington, a senior U.S. official said one option under consideration was trying to forge a compromise between Zelaya, Micheletti and the Honduran military under which the ousted president would be allowed to serve out his remaining six months in office with limited and clearly defined powers.

Zelaya, in return, would pledge to drop his aspirations for a constitutional change that would allow him to run for another term, said the official, who agreed to discuss the situation only if not quoted by name because of the sensitive nature of the diplomatic exchanges.

So far, the White House has called Zelaya's ouster "not legal," but it has not taken any steps to punish Honduras. More than $100 million in U.S. aid would be lost if the State Department officially classifies Zelaya's ouster a "coup," which would trigger an automatic suspension.

The OAS suspended Honduras from membership over the weekend, and the country now faces trade sanctions and the loss of hundreds of millions of dollars in subsidized oil, aid and loans.

Another senior U.S. administration official expressed frustration with Zelaya, saying the ousted Honduran leader rejected advice from the United States and others not to press for the constitutional change and also not to try to return to Honduras on Sunday while the situation remained volatile.

Zelaya told reporters Monday in the Nicaraguan capital that he would try again to return — but next time he won't say when. "My mistake was to let them know I was returning," he said.

If he returns, Zelaya faces arrest for 18 alleged criminal acts including treason and failing to implement more than 80 laws approved by Congress since he took office in 2006.

Associated Press Writer Matthew Lee in Washington contributed to this report.