**The leadership of the Honduran Congress is set to start considering an accord that might lead to the return to power of ousted President Manual Zelaya.**The deal was signed last week by teams representing Mr Zelaya and the interim government that came to power in June.
Leaders in Congress have yet to say when they will put the deal to a vote.
Meanwhile, officials from the US and Chile are due to arrive in Honduras to join a panel monitoring the deal, which proposes a power-sharing government.
US Labour Secretary Hilda Solis and former Chilean President Ricardo Lagos will be accompanied by representatives from the Organization of American States (OAS).
The panel will also include members of Honduras’ two main political parties.
As well as implementing a power-sharing agreement, the deal would require Mr Zelaya and his political rival, interim leader Roberto Micheletti, to recognise the result of a presidential poll due to take place on 29 November.
Pact dynamics
Speaking on Monday, Congressional leader Jose Alfredo Saavedra said he would not rush Congress’ vote on the accord, despite calls from foreign diplomats not to delay.
“Once congressional leaders understand the reach of the pact, once they understand its dynamics, then we’ll decide what path to follow,” he told HRN radio.
Mr Saavedra also said he wanted to consult the country’s Supreme Court, which is expected to give a non-binding opinion on the deal.
Supporters of Mr Zelaya demonstrated outside the Honduran congressional building on Monday, threatening to boycott the election if he is not reinstated immediately.
The president was forced out of the country on 28 June. He has been sheltering in the Brazilian embassy in the capital, Tegucigalpa, since making a surprise return to Honduras on 21 September.
His critics said he was seeking to amend the constitution to remove the current one-term limit on serving as president, and pave the way for his re-election - a claim he denies.
Analysts say a key detail of the arrangement is that Mr Zelaya comes back to power, so that Honduras’ scheduled elections - to decide who will replace him - are deemed valid.