TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras — A military coup has divided Honduras between two leaders — one recognized by world bodies and another backed by the country's congress, courts and military.

Presidents from around Latin America were gathering in Nicaragua for meetings Monday on how to resolve the first coup in Central America in at least 16 years, while the European Union offered to help start talks between the two sides.

The Obama administration and European governments denounced the coup, but Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez took center stage in the region, casting the dispute as a rebellion by the region's poor.

Troops surrounded the presidential palace today and armored military vehicles were parked in front. But soldiers made no attempt to clear away about 200 protesters.