Ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya and interim leader Roberto Micheletti have held mediated talks in Costa Rica on the political crisis in Honduras.
Interim Honduran leader Roberto Micheletti has left talks in Costa Rica without meeting ousted President Manuel Zelaya, who was forced out last month.
The men had separate talks with Costa Rican President Oscar Arias, who is mediating, but did not meet each other.
Mr Micheletti said officials would continue talks with the mediator, Costa Rican President Oscar Arias.
Mr Micheletti, who insists Mr Zelaya should give up his claims to the presidency, has now left Costa Rica.
Mr Zelaya and Mr Micheletti held separate meetings with Mr Arias, but there was scant sign of a breakthrough.
Mr Zelaya says he is the democratically-elected president and should be restored to power.
Each Honduran had made it a condition of attending talks that he would not have to meet the other, officials said.
Mr Micheletti said he would return to Honduras "totally satisfied" and that a working team would remain in Costa Rica to continue the talks.
The Costa Rican president had been hoping to bring the former political allies together for their first direct meeting since the bloodless ousting of Mr Zelaya, but neither would budge.
Earlier, he had said he did not go to Costa Rica to negotiate, simply to talk.
'Criminal'
Long term hopes
"We have no illusions, this may take longer than what was imagined," said Mr Arias, who won the 1987 Nobel Peace Prize for helping resolve Central American civil wars.
Mr Zelaya, speaking after his meeting with Mr Arias, said both sides had "made the first step".
CRISIS TIMELINE 28 June: Troops expel Zelaya; Micheletti becomes interim leader29 June: US President Obama condemns the overthrow as illegal4 July: Organization of American States suspends Honduras5 July: Zelaya's jet is turned back from Honduras, amid clashes9 July: Micheletti leaves mediated talks in Costa Rica
"President Arias heard my position and that of the union and political representatives with me, which is the immediate restoration of the elected president," he said.
Mr Micheletti, who insists Mr Zelaya should give up claims to the presidency, said he was returning to Honduras "totally satisfied".
CRISIS TIMELINE President Zelaya planned non-binding public consultation on constitutional changeCritics say he wanted to stay in power28 June: Troops seize and expel Zelaya; parliamentary speaker becomes interim leader29 June: US President Obama condemns the overthrow as illegal4 July: Organization of American States suspends Honduras in protest at overthrow5 July: Mr Zelaya's jet is turned back from Honduras and clashes with troops leave at least one person dead 9 July: Two sides to attend mediated by Costa Rican President Oscar Arias
In the Costa Rican capital, San Jose, Mr Zelaya said he had told Mr Arias his position was still for "the immediate restoration of the elected president [himself]".
Mr Zelaya had earlier described Mr Micheletti as a "criminal".
The talks were expected to continue on Friday, despite the absence of Mr Micheletti, who is former speaker of the Honduran parliament.
The BBC's Steve Gibbs in the region said Mr Micheletti's departure will be a big blow to the mediators.
Mr Zelaya had earlier described Mr Micheletti as a "criminal" and said he expected the leaders of the coup to leave power in 24 hours.
But the fact that the two men are former allies could mean there is a chance of agreement being reached in the long term, says our correspondent.
The BBC's Steven Gibbs in the region says the two sides did agree that they both respect the Honduran constitution.
Before his meetings, President Arias said that once two sides started talking, "positions begin to soften".
But, he adds, that means little, as interpretation of the charter has divided the rivals since this crisis began.
But Mr Arias, who won the 1987 Nobel Peace Prize for helping bring an end to Central America's civil wars, said he recognised the size of the current task in Honduras.
The interim government has said Mr Zelaya should face trial in Honduras for allegedly abusing the constitution.
"In two days there could be a solution, or it could be that in two months there is no solution," he said.
On arriving back in the Honduran capital, Tegucigalpa, Mr Micheletti said: "We are in agreement with his [Mr Zelaya's] return here - but to be sent directly to the courts."
The talks are scheduled to continue on Friday.
In Honduras itself, thousands of pro- and anti-Zelaya protesters took to the streets on Thursday.
Both sides made statements ahead of the talks showing little willingness to negotiate.
Supporters of the ousted leader cut off several highways, while Mr Micheletti's backers took to the streets of San Pedro Sula and other towns.
The interim government says it intends to ensure Mr Zelaya returns to Honduras to face trial for abusing the constitution.
Mr Zelaya was forced out of Honduras at gunpoint on 28 June.
But as he arrived in San Jose, Mr Zelaya told reporters he expected the leaders of the coup to leave power in 24 hours.
The political crisis erupted after he attempted to hold a non-binding public consultation to ask people whether they supported moves to change the constitution.
Mr Micheletti said: "We're not going to negotiate, we're going to talk. We'll work tirelessly to seek a solution within the framework of the constitution."
Opponents said that could have led to the removal of the current one-term limit on serving as president and so paved the way for Mr Zelaya's possible re-election.
Rival protests
Mr Zelaya was ousted and forced out of Honduras at gunpoint on 28 June.
The political crisis erupted after Mr Zelaya attempted to hold a non-binding public consultation to ask people whether they supported moves to change the constitution.
Opponents said that could have led to the removal of the current one-term limit on serving as president and so pave the way for Mr Zelaya's possible re-election.
In Honduras itself, thousands of supporters and opponents of Mr Zelaya held rival demonstrations on Thursday.
Supporters of Mr Zelaya cut off several main highways, while Mr Micheletti's backers took to the streets of San Pedro Sula and other towns.
