Paraguay seeks Stroessner return

Alfredo Stroessner has been granted political asylum in Brazil

Paraguay has requested the extradition from Brazil of the country's former military ruler Alfredo Stroessner.

A judge has called for Mr Stroessner, who governed between 1954 and 1989, to be sent back to Paraguay.

The request refers to Operation Condor, a co-ordinated campaign carried out by South American military governments in the 1970s to quash their opponents.

Thousands of Paraguayans were forced to escape to neighbouring Argentina during Mr Stroessner's rule.

The judge said Mr Stroessner was involved in the disappearance of three political opponents who had fled to Argentina.

The judge has also summoned the former head of the Paraguayan armed forces, Alejandro Fretes Davalos, and 30 other retired military officers for questioning.

General Stroessner's lawyer said the extradition request was harmless because his client had political asylum in Brazil, where he has been living since 1989.

General Augusto Pinochet of Chile is accused of masterminding the political purges of Operation Condor.