The Roman Catholic Church in Guatemala says it has appointed its own investigator to gather information about the murder of a prominent bishop, Juan Gerardi, last April.

A church official said they were doing this because the Guatemalan authorities had failed to carry out a serious and thorough investigation.

Last month, a judge ruled that there was enough evidence to bring a priest to trial for the bishop's murder.

But the Church and human rights groups continue to insist that the crime had political motives and is being covered up.

Bishop Gerardi was killed just days after publishing a report blaming the army for many abuses comitted during Guatemala's civil war.