A report compiled for the Roman Catholic church in Guatemala says a priest accused of murdering a prominent bishop earlier this year is innocent.

The author of the report Acisclo Valladares said the evidence suggested that Bishop Juan Gerardi had been the victim of what he described as an extrajudicial execution.

Correspondents say this was a reference to suspicions of a political motive behind the killing.

Bishop Gerardi was found bludgeoned to death in April, two days after he published a report accusing the Guatemalan army of widespread human rights abuses during the civil war.

A priest, Mario Orantes, is in jail accused of carrying out the killing.