Madrid - Ousted Honduran president Manuel Zelaya needs to retake power before an eventual trial against him, Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said Thursday.

"Zelaya may have committed acts that would lead to a political judgment or trial," Zapatero said.

"But it is indisputable that soldiers cannot abduct a president and take him out of the country," the premier continued, explaining that such an event had not occurred in Latin America for more than two decades.

Zelaya was toppled in a coup and evicted to Costa Rica on Sunday.

"We need to stand very firm, regardless of what we thought about Zelaya," said Zapatero, whose country has recalled its ambassador to Honduras for consultations, along with several other European nations.

Zelaya on Wednesday continued to represent his country abroad, joining other regional leaders attending the inauguration of Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli.

The Organization of American States (OAS) gave Honduras a 72-hour ultimatum to restore Zelaya to the presidency or be suspended from membership in the hemispheric organization.(dpa)