Paraguay political coalition disintegrates

ASUNCION, Paraguay, Sept. 20 (UPI) -- Fernando Lugo, a former Catholic bishop running for president of Paraguay, says his political coalition has fallen apart and he's trying to forge a new group.

Lugo said Wednesday the 10-party National Unity group that had backed him has split up and he is now trying to form a new opposition group, the Patriotic Alliance for Change, Mercopress reported Thursday. Lugo will try to end six decades of one-party rule in next April's election.

The new political alliance would include seven of the original parties but would not include backers of former Gen. Lino Oviedo, who was paroled this month after serving time for trying to overthrow the government in 1996, the news agency said.

Lugo called Oviedo "a figure from the past" and said the people of Paraguay "need to look to the future with optimism, because the country is in need of profound and urgent change.’’

Paraguay's constitution prevents President Nicanor Duarte from seeking another term immediately after his current term expires.