Tegucigalpa, July 22 (DPA) The Honduran de-facto regime Tuesday broke off diplomatic relations with Venezuela, whose president Hugo Chavez has stood by President Manuel Zelaya since his unceremonious ouster and expulsion in late June.

The move represented an escalation in the crisis. The Organisation of American States (OAS) has suspended Honduras' membership to protest the ouster of Zelaya, who was democratically elected, and to oppose his replacement by Roberto Micheletti.

Attempts at mediation by Costa Rica President Oscar Arias ended without agreement Sunday and could resume late Wednesday.

The post-coup government Tuesday demanded that Venezuela withdraw all of its diplomatic personnel within 72 hours. Deputy Foreign Minister Martha Lorena Casco said that Honduras would also withdraw its ambassador from Caracas.

Micheletti charges that Chavez has been meddling in the internal affairs of Honduras.