Paraguay pres. stands by claims against Venezuela

Published November 20, 2014

Paraguay's new president is joining his defense minister in alleging that Venezuela's foreign minister tried to convince the country's military leaders to support ex-President Fernando Lugo in the face of a Senate impeachment trial.

Defense Minister Maria Liz Arnold says the Venezuelan official met with a group of Paraguayan army, navy and air force brass on the day Lugo was ousted and asked them to back him. She says the officers declined to challenge the Senate decision.

In an interview Thursday with The Associated Press, President Federico Franco says the allegation is "absolutely true."

Venezuela's foreign ministry in Caracas declined to comment on the allegation.

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