Gen Oviedo surrenders

Asuncion - Gen Lino Oviedo turned himself in to authorities yesterday before being sent before military courts, the President…

Asuncion - Gen Lino Oviedo turned himself in to authorities yesterday before being sent before military courts, the President, Mr Raul Cubas, said.

In a short statement to the Supreme Court president, Mr Wildo Rienzi, the President said Gen Oviedo - sentenced to 10 years in prison for a failed coup attempt in 1996 - was in the custody of presidential palace security forces.

Mr Cubas commuted Gen Oviedo's sentence last August shortly after he took office, sparking a political row. On February 5th the Supreme Court ruled that Mr Cubas had 72 hours to arrest Gen Oviedo.

Mr Cubas had defied the ruling, publicly giving his support to Gen Oviedo, his political mentor.