WASHINGTON — The United States on Monday called Honduras' weekend election an important step forward but said more needs to be done to achieve reconciliation after a coup earlier this year threw the country into turmoil.

Arturo Valenzuela, the U.S. assistant secretary of state for the Western Hemisphere, said the election was fair and transparent but that Honduras must make further efforts to restore democracy after President Manuel Zelaya was expelled in June.

"While the election is a necessary step, it is not a sufficient one," Valenzuela said. "It's not the last step."

Many Western Hemisphere countries refuse to recognize Honduras' newly elected President Porfirio Lobo because of the coup, and Valenzuela was pressed by reporters on whether the United States recognizes Lobo's election.

"He will be the next president of Honduras," he said. "We recognize those results, and we commend Mr. Lobo for having won these elections."

Valenzuela said, however, that Honduras must do more than elect a new leader; it must also form a government of national unity and a truth commission meant to seek reconciliation.