Ex-dictator to Run for President

A former dictator who is facing charges of genocide will be running for president of Guatemala this year. This week, a court in Guatemala City ruled that retired general Efrain Rios Montt, accused of responsibility for tens of thousands of deaths during the 1980s civil war, was entitled to stand for office.

The leader of a military coup in 1982, Gen Rios Montt ruled Guatemala with an iron fist. A born-again evangelical Christian, he held power for 16 months before being ousted. It was during this period than many of the worst atrocities in Guatemala's 36-year civil war were committed. His "civil defence" patrols conscripted indigenous Indians and killed those who resisted. Whole villages were slaughtered if they were thought to be hostile or to have assisted leftwing guerrillas.

Although he has long since returned to politics as president of the congress, until this week Gen Rios Montt, 77, had been excluded from standing for the presidency, and the constitutional court had upheld that ban. But two new members of the court, both close to the current president, Alfonso Portillo, have reversed that stance in a 4-3 vote, opening the way for him to run on November 9.

Gen Rios Montt said on television this week that the decision was "an expression of the professional spirit, character and dignity of independent justices". He already has his campaign slogan, "I am Guatemala".

The ruling has angered his opponents who have been hanging black ribbons "in mourning for democracy". Human rights groups have expressed outrage.

"Guatemala's government appears condemned to repeat the mistakes of the past," said Amnesty International yesterday.

This week the US embassy in Guatemala and the state department indicated that the election of Gen Rios Montt would create "difficulties" for the US. He also faces charges of genocide in Spain because a number of Spanish citizens were killed during his time in power.

Polls show Gen Rios Montt third in the race. He enjoys some support from people worried about street crime. But there is also opposition: when he appeared in the town of Rabinal last month, he was stoned by protesters, including Mayan Indians whose relatives had been massacred during his rule.