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Guatemala's Congress strips president of immunity | Guatemala's Congress strips president of immunity |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Guatemala's congress has voted in favour of removing immunity from the country's president Otto Perez Molina. | Guatemala's congress has voted in favour of removing immunity from the country's president Otto Perez Molina. |
The vote paves the way for possible prosecution in a corruption scandal that has sparked huge protests in recent months. | The vote paves the way for possible prosecution in a corruption scandal that has sparked huge protests in recent months. |
Crowds outside Congress cheered to celebrate the news. | Crowds outside Congress cheered to celebrate the news. |
Prosecutors last week accused Mr Perez Molina of masterminding a scheme to defraud the customs service of millions of dollars. He denies wrongdoing. | Prosecutors last week accused Mr Perez Molina of masterminding a scheme to defraud the customs service of millions of dollars. He denies wrongdoing. |
The resolution was passed by 132 votes in favour, well clear of the two-thirds majority needed to pass the motion in the 158-member congress. | The resolution was passed by 132 votes in favour, well clear of the two-thirds majority needed to pass the motion in the 158-member congress. |
Under Guatemalan law the president will be automatically removed from office if remanded in custody. | Under Guatemalan law the president will be automatically removed from office if remanded in custody. |
His former vice-president and a string of top officials have been force to resign over the scandal. It comes as the country prepares for presidential elections on Sunday. | His former vice-president and a string of top officials have been force to resign over the scandal. It comes as the country prepares for presidential elections on Sunday. |
Investigators have alleged that officials received a cut from bribes paid by businesses seeking to evade import duties. | Investigators have alleged that officials received a cut from bribes paid by businesses seeking to evade import duties. |
Analysis: Katy Watson, BBC News, Guatemala City | |
A vote in favour was expected but it didn't stop the nerves - would enough politicians turn up and would members of the president's party vote against him? | |
When the results came in there was lots of clapping and cheering. Guatemalans couldn't be happier. The demonstration outside the congress building turned into a party, with people chanting "Yes we could!" | |
For the past four months Guatemalans been going out on the streets to protest over government corruption and calling for the president to resign. | |
This paves the way for the country's leader to be tried like any ordinary citizen and there's a sense of relief that finally, politicians are not above the law. |