Demonstrators hold a vigil outside the Constitutional Court of Guatemala against the decision of President Morales to end the mandate of the U.N.-backed anti-graft commission

WORLD

Guatemala: UN anti-corruption team investigating President's campaign finances

A Guatemalan Court has blocked an attempt by the Country`s President Jimmy Morales to expel a United Nations anti corruption team, after it turned its spotlight on his campaign finances.

By James Blears

Initially, Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales welcomed the investigations of the United Nations` Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala. But then it together with the State Prosecutor`s Office applied to remove his Presidential immunity from prosecution concerning alleged campaign irregularities of his FCN-Nation Party.

President Morales says the Commission has violated the Country`s sovereignty as well as the rights of suspects. Last week Foreign Minister Sandra Jovel announced that The Commision had twenty four hours to pack its bags and leave. But then Guatemala`s Constitutional Court overruled this. The latest development is a petition from a group of lawyers to remove the immunity of the Constitutional Court Judges.

The Commission has already left the Country, because the Government refuses to guarantee its security.

Listen to the report by James Blears