Casa Alianza sacked Harris last week

All aspects of its activities will be investigated, a prosecutor said.

A former member of the Honduran parliament said she had received reports that children at Casa Alianza's shelters had been abused by foreigners.

Last week the group sacked its UK-born director saying he had acted improperly with a youth the group had once helped.

The man, Bruce Harris, said he assumed responsibility for his actions, correct or incorrect.

Critic

The Honduran special children's rights prosecutor, Nora Urbina, said the authorities were taking a hard look at all aspects of Casa Alianza to ensure other improprieties had not occurred.

"We are ready to see this thing through to determine what really occurred within the institution," she told the Associated Press news agency on Thursday.

Casa Alianza - which is based in Costa Rica - is known across Latin America for defending the rights of street children.

While directing Casa Alianza, Mr Harris was a well-known critic of the government of Honduras, saying its crime-fighting measures violated the rights of homeless youngsters.