Guatemala power-grab

The US condemned the suspension of constitutional rule yesterday by Guatemala's President Jorge Serrano and urged him to restore democracy, AFP reports from Washington. 'This illegitimate course of action threatens to place Guatemala outside the democratic community of nations,' said the White House. 'We strongly condemn such efforts to resolve Guatemala's problems through non-democratic means.'

President Serrano dissolved Congress, the supreme court and the constitutional court yesterday in a surprise move backed by the army, sparking protests from various Latin American countries.