U.S. base locks gates after Honduran coup

SOTO CANO AIR BASE, Honduras, July 1 (UPI) -- Members of the U.S. military assigned to Honduras are staying on base following last week's coup ousting President Manuel Zelaya, the Pentagon said.

The 600 U.S. soldiers, sailors and airmen based at Soto Cano Air Base also suspended exercises with the Honduran military, Robert Appin, deputy director for public information and outreach at Southern Command in Miami, said in a news release.

The last off-base operation was Friday when U.S. service personnel concluded a medical readiness exercise, Appin said. The coup occurred Sunday.

Army Col. Richard A. Juergens, Soto Cano commander, ordered the air base closed following Zelaya's ouster, the Pentagon said in its release Tuesday.

"No one is allowed off base except for emergency situations," Appin said. "All travel is restricted."

During his daily briefing Wednesday, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said the administration would "continue to monitor the situation and will respond accordingly as events transpire."