Mr Micheletti produced a curiously worded resignation letter which Mr Zelaya denies having written or signed.

ECONOMIST: The coup in Honduras

Vatican officials explained that the change was partly due to the fact that the church constitution was written principally for a conclave following the death of a pope, rather than a resignation.

BBC: Pope Benedict XVI amends Roman Catholic conclave law

However his resignation has not been prompted by any advance knowledge of the report into hacking being written by the committee.

BBC: Why James Murdoch is giving up BSkyB chair