WASHINGTON, July 5 (Reuters) - The interim government in Honduras has told the Organization of American States it wants to start talks, a senior U.S. official said on Sunday, as ousted President Manuel Zelaya departed for his country.

Zelaya's plane will be diverted to a neighboring country if it is refused landing in Honduras, the official said, calling the situation in the Central American country "very fluid and challenging." (Reporting by Doug Palmer; Editing by John O'Callaghan)