Paraguay pres: Military shake-up gives opportunities to young officers dedicated to democracy

November 4th, 2009 President Lugo fires Paraguay's military chiefsASUNCION, Paraguay — President Fernando Lugo fired Paraguay's military chiefs Wednesday, a day after denying he had worries about a coup amid calls for his impeachment. In a statement given to journalists at the presidential palace, Lugo named new commanders for the army, air force and navy without explaining his reasons.

October 29th, 2009 Guinea's military arrests 10 on hunger strikeCONAKRY, Guinea — A Guinean activist says the military has arrested 10 demonstrators who were on a hunger strike to protest last month's massacre. Ousmane Bah, who escaped the arrest by hiding, said Thursday that the young union members were driven away in a truck Wednesday.

October 15th, 2009 Philippines acquits 11 alleged coup plottersMANILA, Philippines — A Philippine military tribunal acquitted 11 officers Thursday of plotting a foiled 2006 coup against President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. The defendants are among a total of 28 military officers who were detained following the alleged plan to force Arroyo from power.

October 14th, 2009 Paraguay unveils archives from dictatorshipASUNCION, Paraguay — Human rights activists gained access Wednesday to a dictatorship-era military archive that appears to contain long-held secrets about Paraguay's persecution of opponents during Alfredo Stroessner's 1954-1989 rule. The basement archive in the Ministry of Defense appears to hold some records about Operation Condor, a coordinated campaign by South American military governments against leftists during the 1970s and 80s, according to rights activist Martin Almada.

September 30th, 2009 Convicted Paraguay torturers kept earning salariesASUNCION, Paraguay — Three police chiefs imprisoned for torture have finally have been fired after collecting their salaries from behind bars since 1995, Paraguay's interior minister said Tuesday. The former officials are serving 25-year terms in maximum security prison for human rights offenses under the dictatorship of Gen.

August 23rd, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Unidentified gunmen shot dead two military officers in Pakistan's northwest, according to media reports Sunday. Police sources were quoted as saying that some armed men opened indiscriminate fire late Saturday night on military intelligence officer Aftab Alam and military transport battalion official Ameer Hamza in front of their homes in the military area at Nowshera, a garrison city some 100 km northwest of Islamabad.

August 12th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistan has decided to restructure its Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) spy agency, which is often accused of functioning as a state within a state, to make it more efficient and vibrant. "The effort that is already underway would bring energetic and more dedicated personnel into the fold of the agency who could live up to the challenges of the modern age," The News said Wednesday.

August 6th, 2009 Paraguay upholds prison terms in supermarket blazeASUNCION, Paraguay — Paraguay's Supreme Court has upheld the original prison sentences given to the owners of a supermarket that caught fire five years ago, killing 420 people. The court voted 2-1 late Wednesday in favor of a sentence of 12 years for Juan Pio Paiva and 10 years for his son Daniel Paiva, spokesman Luis Gimenez said.

August 6th, 2009 Paraguay landless try crucifixion to get attentionASUNCION, Paraguay — It's a gruesome tradition in Paraguay that gets results, at least from leftist priest-turned president Fernando Lugo. A half-dozen protesters have hammered long nails through their hands and tied themselves to crosses or laid in coffins in an appeal for land.

July 30th, 2009 Ousted Honduran president: Military could rebelOCOTAL, Nicaragua — Ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya says disgruntled military officers could rebel "at any moment" against the government installed in a coup. Zelaya says he has information that some soldiers and officers are "repudiating the way in which the military leadership is directing the armed forces." He warns young officers could rebel "at any moment" and force military chief Gen.

June 24th, 2009 Paraguay woman says Lugo raped her in '01ASUNCION, Paraguay — A woman who claims that Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo is the father of her son on Tuesday accused the former Roman Catholic bishop of raping her in their first sexual encounter. Lugo declined to address the allegation against him in detail, but said in a news conference that it is all "part of the second chapter of the novel, I am waiting for the third." "The matter is in the courts and you should talk to my attorney," he said.

May 19th, 2009 LONDON - British prime Minister Gordon Brown has sent a message of personal support and solidarity to the arrested Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, saying that she is "not alone" in her fight to reinstate democracy in Burma. "We should not rest until you are able to play your rightful role in a free and secure Burma.

April 28th, 2009 Russia to fire over 35,000 army officers in 2009MOSCOW — Russian news agencies cite one of the country's deputy defense ministers as saying that more that 35,000 officers are to be fired in 2009 as part of sweeping military reforms. ITAR-Tass and other agencies quote Nikolai Pankov as giving the figures on Tuesday.

April 23rd, 2009 Illegitimate son of Paraguay president adopts nameASUNCION, Paraguay — A 2-year-old boy that Paraguayan bishop-turned-President Fernando Lugo fathered with a former parishioner is adopting his dad's name. Judge Judith Gauto says she accepted the president's request to rename the child Guillermo Fernando Lugo Carrillo.

April 23rd, 2009 Correction: Paraguay-Presidential Paternity storyASUNCION, Paraguay — In an April 20 story about paternity claims against Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo, The Associated Press erroneously reported the name of a 6-year-old boy he allegedly fathered. He is named Lucas Fernando, not Fernando Lucas.