WASHINGTON -- An outspoken critic of the Obama administration's handling of the crisis in Honduras late Thursday dropped his opposition to two State Department nominees, saying the administration has reversed course.

Angry over President Barack Obama's Honduras policy, South Carolina Republican Sen. Jim DeMint had objected to the nomination of Arturo Valenzuela to be assistant secretary of Western Hemisphere affairs and Thomas Shannon to be U.S. ambassador to Brazil.

DeMint said Thursday on the Senate floor that he spoke with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton who told him the administration would recognize the Nov. 29 election in Honduras, ``regardless of whether former President Manuel Zelaya is returned to office.''

``I am happy to report the Obama administration has finally reversed its misguided Honduran policy and will fully recognize the Nov. 29 elections,'' DeMint said.

He noted that the stance means he'll lift his hold on Valenzuela's confirmation hearing.

Zelaya was toppled in a June 28 coup, and DeMint had argued that the administration made the wrong call by pushing for his return to power.

The senator's hold stalled Obama's Latin America policy, which many critics felt was rudderless without a top diplomat in place.

But DeMint said he spoke with Clinton and Shannon who told him that the U.S. would recognize the outcome of the Honduran elections, regardless of whether Zelaya is reinstated.

``I take our administration at their word that they will now side with the Honduran people and end their focus on the disgraced Zelaya,'' he said.

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