WASHINGTON: The United States on Monday condemned the violence against demonstrators in Honduras and urged the interim government and other players to seek a peaceful solution following the army-backed coup.

"We deplore the use of force against demonstrators in Tegucigalpa in recent days," State Department spokesman Ian Kelly told reporters.

"We once again call upon the de facto regime and all actors in Honduras to refrain from all acts of violence, and seek a peaceful, constitutional and lasting solution to the serious divisions in that country through dialogue," he added.

Political tensions degenerated into violence on Sunday as President Manuel Zelaya, who was ousted in a coup a week earlier, tried to return to Honduras in a flight that was prevented from landing in Tegucigalpa, the Honduran capital.

Before Zelaya's expected arrival, troops fired tear gas and opened fire on angry protesters trying to break into the airport, killing two and injuring at least two others, police said.

With military vehicles blocking the runway, Zelaya's plane could not land and it flew on to Nicaragua, officials said.