Army rebels in Paraguay

The authorities in Paraguay say they've ended an attempted coup by suspected supporters of the fugitive former army chief, General Lino Oviedo.

A Paraguayan military spokesman said the rebels had agreed to surrender, after retreating from the centre of the capital, Asuncion, to a military base outside the city.

Asuncion is now said to be quiet and the rebels have been put under arrest.

The coup attempt began with the seizure of several radio stations by rebel troops; they also used tanks to attack the parliament, causing severe damage to the building but no casualties.

After being confronted by soldiers loyal to President Luis Gonzalez Macchi, though, they fled the city, pursued by air force planes. The former army commander, General Oviedo is on the run after being accused of involvement in the assassination of the vice-president in 1998.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service