Honduran interim leader Roberto Micheletti says that he may resign from his position temporarily ahead of the Nov. 29 presidential elections.

Micheletti said that he will consult his advisers about resignation ahead of the vote and by Dec. 2, when Congress is scheduled to vote on whether to reinstate ousted President Manuel Zelaya.

"My purpose with this measure is for the attention of all Hondurans to concentrate on the electoral process and not on the political crisis," Micheletti said Thursday.

He did not say who would be in charge of the government if he takes the weeklong leave of absence, adding that he would immediately return to the presidency should threats to order and security arise.

After Zelaya was ousted by the country's military on June 28, Micheletti was named president by Congress.

The ousted leftist leader derided Micheletti's announcement as 'an easy maneuver ... to deceive fools,' the Associated Press reported.

Zelaya again warned that he would not return to the presidency if Congress votes to restore him after the elections, saying doing so would legitimize the coup.

"It's illegal and violates the rights of the voters because it tries to hide a coup d'état," Zelaya said.

AGB/MTM/DT