Guatemala's human rights groups protest Supreme Court's decision to oust crusading prosecutor

GUATEMALA CITY – Human rights groups in Guatemala are protesting the Supreme Court's decision to oust the country's crusading attorney general seven months before her term was set to end.

Eleven human rights organizations said Friday that they are asking the top court to include them in the discussion of whether Attorney General Claudia Paz y Paz should leave her post in May, instead of December, when her 4-year term ends.

The Supreme Court ruled this week in favor of a lawyer who filed a petition that Paz y Paz be replaced in May because he argued that's what a law governing prosecutors dictates. Paz y Paz has asked the court to reverse its decision.

Paz's aggressive prosecutions and reputation for staying above corruption have won her the backing of the U.S. government.