Tegucigalpa, Honduras  - Ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya returned Monday to the Central American country and has taken refuge at the United Nations office in Tegucigalpa.

Sources at the Honduran Embassy in Washington told the German Press Agency dpa that Zelaya - who had been expected to speak before the UN General Assembly in New York this week - had returned to his country.

"The president is already in Honduras," an embassy source said.

The source gave no details as to the ousted president's precise whereabouts, but local media that back the leader said he was at the local UN offices. Past attempts by Zelaya to return to his country have end in stand offs.

Zelaya was removed from office by a military-backed coup on June 28, but he continues to be recognized by the international community as the country's legitimate leader. The government set up after the coup is headed by former Congress Speaker Roberto Micheletti, who was next in line under presidential succession rules.

Since the coup, the country has been suspended from membership in the Organization of American States (OAS). It has generally been isolated in the Americas and subjected to economic sanctions.

Costa Rican President Oscar Arias - acting as mediator in the Honduran crisis - had drafted a proposal, known as the San Jose Accord, to end the stand off, but it has been rejected by the interim Honduran government. It calls for Zelaya to be reinstated as president to head a government of national reconciliation until his constitutional term ends in January.

A presidential election had been scheduled for November 29 prior to Zelaya's ouster.  dpa