freepalestine
24th June 2012, 04:37
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-18564206
Paraguay Faces Harsh Response from LA Neighbors over Presidents Ouster
REUTERS/ Marcos Brindicci
07:00 24/06/2012
MEXICO CITY, June 24 (RIA Novosti)
Argentina has ordered its ambassador in Paraguay to immediately return home in protest against the impeachment of Paraguays President Fernando Lugo, while Brazil and Uruguay have recalled their envoys for consultations.
Argentinas decision to withdraw the ambassador came as a response to "the grave institutional events... that culminated in the removal of constitutional President Fernando Lugo and the rupture of democratic order, the Argentinas Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
The move came a day after Argentinas President Cristina Fernandez described Lugo's dismissal as a coup.
Paraguay's Congress voted overwhelmingly on Friday to remove Lugo from office over last weeks deadly clashes between farmers and police officers that left 17 people dead.
Lugo has faced strong condemnation over his mishandling of a forced land eviction in which seven police officers and at least ten farmers were killed.
Two other Latin American states, regional heavyweight Brazil and Uruguay, said they were recalling their ambassadors from Paraguay for consultations.
Brazil condemns the removal of [Paraguays] President Fernando Lugo from his post and intends to discuss possible measures over the situation in Paraguay with its MERCOSUR and UNASUR partners, the countrys Foreign Ministry said, referring to regional trade and political blocs.
Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff said the blocs should consider expelling Paraguay.
Uruguays ambassador was expected to arrive in his home country in the next few hours to discuss the situation with its leadership, the Ultimahora newspaper said.
The Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA), a bloc of eight Latin American and Caribbean nations, issued a statement on Saturday describing the events in Paraguay as a coup and expressing their support for Lugo.
We express firm solidarity with the constitutionally elected President Fernando Lugo and stress out support for the brave people of Paraguay who took to the streets in protest against what has happened, the alliance said.
ALBA said it does not recognize Franco as Paraguay's leader. The alliance consists of Antigua and Barbados, Bolivia, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Nicaragua, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Venezuela.
Vice President Federico Franco, a one-time ally turned critic of Lugo who supported the impeachment, was sworn in on Friday to replace Lugo on the countrys top post until presidential elections scheduled for April 2013.
Franco dismissed allegations that Lugos dismissal was a result of a coup.
"There is no coup here, no institutional breakdown. It's a legal step that the constitution and the laws of my country permit in order to make a change with the situation becomes unworkable," he told journalists, according to the EFE news agency.
Paraguay Faces Harsh Response from LA Neighbors over Presidents Ouster
REUTERS/ Marcos Brindicci
07:00 24/06/2012
MEXICO CITY, June 24 (RIA Novosti)
Argentina has ordered its ambassador in Paraguay to immediately return home in protest against the impeachment of Paraguays President Fernando Lugo, while Brazil and Uruguay have recalled their envoys for consultations.
Argentinas decision to withdraw the ambassador came as a response to "the grave institutional events... that culminated in the removal of constitutional President Fernando Lugo and the rupture of democratic order, the Argentinas Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
The move came a day after Argentinas President Cristina Fernandez described Lugo's dismissal as a coup.
Paraguay's Congress voted overwhelmingly on Friday to remove Lugo from office over last weeks deadly clashes between farmers and police officers that left 17 people dead.
Lugo has faced strong condemnation over his mishandling of a forced land eviction in which seven police officers and at least ten farmers were killed.
Two other Latin American states, regional heavyweight Brazil and Uruguay, said they were recalling their ambassadors from Paraguay for consultations.
Brazil condemns the removal of [Paraguays] President Fernando Lugo from his post and intends to discuss possible measures over the situation in Paraguay with its MERCOSUR and UNASUR partners, the countrys Foreign Ministry said, referring to regional trade and political blocs.
Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff said the blocs should consider expelling Paraguay.
Uruguays ambassador was expected to arrive in his home country in the next few hours to discuss the situation with its leadership, the Ultimahora newspaper said.
The Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA), a bloc of eight Latin American and Caribbean nations, issued a statement on Saturday describing the events in Paraguay as a coup and expressing their support for Lugo.
We express firm solidarity with the constitutionally elected President Fernando Lugo and stress out support for the brave people of Paraguay who took to the streets in protest against what has happened, the alliance said.
ALBA said it does not recognize Franco as Paraguay's leader. The alliance consists of Antigua and Barbados, Bolivia, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Nicaragua, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Venezuela.
Vice President Federico Franco, a one-time ally turned critic of Lugo who supported the impeachment, was sworn in on Friday to replace Lugo on the countrys top post until presidential elections scheduled for April 2013.
Franco dismissed allegations that Lugos dismissal was a result of a coup.
"There is no coup here, no institutional breakdown. It's a legal step that the constitution and the laws of my country permit in order to make a change with the situation becomes unworkable," he told journalists, according to the EFE news agency.