Paraguay's Fernando Lugo alleges coup plot

[Judi Lynn]

Posted on Tue, Sep. 02, 2008
Paraguay's Fernando Lugo alleges coup plot

Paraguay's president has warned of a possible coup plot against his new government, saying that rival politicians summoned a key military figure to gauge support for their political ambitions.

Two alleged participants responded that the meeting never happened. But President Fernando Lugo said all Paraguayans need to be on alert for coup attempts by ''antidemocratic and retrograde'' elements.

''We will not allow attacks on the freedom of our people,'' Lugo told reporters summoned to his offices Monday. ``Those who intend to pursue conspiratorial projects will be met with all the tools the constitution gives me.''

Lugo accused retired Gen. Lino Cesar Oviedo, a former political rival who placed third in April's presidential election, of holding the meeting in his home on Sunday.

Lugo told reporters that a liaison between the military and Congress unwittingly was driven to the meeting. He was picked up by the chauffeur of Senate President Enrique González, a member of Oviedo's party.

More:
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/breaking-news/story/668689.html

[Judi Lynn]

1. Paraguayan political system hermetic to President Lugo

Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Paraguayan political system hermetic to President Lugo

Latinamerican ambassadors and the Organization of American States expressed on Tuesday their full support to the elected government of Paraguayan president Fernando Lugo who on Monday warned of a possible coup plot against his new administration.

The ambassadors were invited by Foreign Affairs minister Alejandro Hamed and given details of the alleged plot.

President Lugo accused rival politicians of having summoned a key military figure to a conspiratorial meeting to gauge support for their political ambitions. However the two main alleged participants said that the meeting never happened.

But President Fernando Lugo revealed he had evidence of the meeting and plot and said all Paraguayans need to be on alert for coup attempts by "antidemocratic and retrograde” elements.

Apparently those involved are former president Nicanor Duarte and retired general and former presidential hopeful Lino Oviedo, who invited General Maximo Diaz Caceres, liaison between the Armed Forces and Congress to talk about the issue.

“The governments of the countries here represented have expressed their unrestricted support to President Lugo. They have also expressed their full support to the democratic process and their absolute respect for internal affairs which can only be addressed by Paraguayans”, said Mexican ambassador Ernesto Campos Tenorio, who acted as the diplomats spokesperson with Minister Hamed.

More:
http://www.mercopress.com/vernoticia.do?id=14430&formato=HTML