Guatemalan army to open records

Portillo left Guatemala under a cloud

Guatemala's military has been forced to open up its records to officials investigating alleged corruption under former President Alfonso Portillo.

Investigators are trying to trace about $100m in funds allegedly transferred to the military between 2001 and 2003.

The army argued that its records were a state secret - an argument rejected by an appeals court on Friday.

Mr Portillo left Guatemala for Mexico in February under a cloud of corruption allegations - which he denies.

The former president has said he fled because he could not get a fair trial in Guatemala.

President Oscar Berger - who succeeded Mr Portillo in January - welcomed the investigation, saying it was part of the transformation of the military.

Three army generals have been banned from leaving Guatemala while the inquiry proceeds.