Campaign against Stroessner asylum

Human rights groups in Paraguay have urged the Brazilian president, Fernando Henrique Cardoso, to revoke political asylum granted to the former Paraguayan military ruler, General Alfredo Stroessner.

In a letter sent to Mr Cardoso, the activists accused the Brazilian government of sheltering General Stroessner from charges of human rights abuses arising from his thirty-five year rule in Paraguay.

The General fled to Brazil in 1989 seeking political asylum after he was overthrown.

But human rights groups have called on Mr Cardoso to refuse his annual request for renewal when it is considered in June. During his years in power, General Stroessner is alleged to have participated in a regional plan to hunt down opponents of military rule in Latin America, known as Operation Condor.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service