Tegucigalpa  - Police used tear gas Tuesday to disperse thousands of supporters of ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya outside the Brazilian embassy in Tegucigalpa, where he had taken refuge after returning to the country.

Orlin Cerrato, spokesman for the Security Ministry in the government set up after Zelaya's ouster on June 28, confirmed the clashes between police and supporters of Zelaya.

Cerrato said several people, including some police officers, were injured and that the demonstrators set fire to a police patrol car.

Honduras was placed under a fresh curfew as Zelaya's supporters gathered outside the embassy.

"My position is, fatherland, reinstatement (as president) or death," Zelaya told the crowd.

The de facto government led by former Congress speaker Roberto Micheletti extended the curfew from Monday to Tuesday, while diplomatic pressure mounted for Zelaya's restoration to office. (dpa)