Mobile UPI  |   About UPI  |   UPI en Español  |   UPI Arabic  |   UPIU  |   My Account
Search:
Go

New military heads installed in Paraguay

|
|
 
  
Published: Nov. 6, 2009 at 1:53 PM

ASUNCION, Paraguay, Nov. 6 (UPI) -- New commanders were put in place for Paraguay's army, air force and navy, the country's armed forces said a day after talk of a military coup swirled.

Paraguay President Fernando Lugo, who ordered the shake-up, did not attend Thursday's ceremony in Asuncion and his office did not initially announce the new military appointments. It was the third makeover of Paraguay's military leadership since Lugo, a former Catholic bishop, took office last year.

CNN reported Brig. Gen. Bartolome Ramon Pineda Ortiz was sworn in as head of the army, while Brig. Gen. Hugo Gilberto Aranda Chamorro took over as leader of the air force and Rear Adm. Egberto Emerito Orie Benegas as head of the navy.

Gen. Cibar Benitez retains his post as commander of the armed forces, CNN said.

Benitez used the swearing-in event to confirm plans to implement additional changes in the military's lower ranks. The armed forces commander also dismissed rumors of a possible military coup.

CNN said Lugo also swept aside talk of a military takeover this week, but replaced his military's top leaders the next day.

Topics: Fernando Lugo
© 2009 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.

Order reprints
  
Join the conversation
Most Popular Collections
The Tibetan Moniam Festival in China Super Bowl XLVI ticker tape victory parade The making of the Oscars
The Chicago Auto Show The Most Desirable Women of 2012 Tu Bishvat Migron settlement
Additional World News Stories
1 of 21
President Obama Signs Smuggling Prevention Act at White House
View Caption
fark
Weepy eyes, hot chix, Jersey Shore Ronnie and a guy with mini fishing reels stuck in his beard....
French roadbuilders find 21 German WWI soldiers...and 1 goat
Photoshop this crazy old coot in the cold
Anonymous ends the week by bringing down the CIA webpage. *golf clap*
You can lead a horse to a hyperbaric chamber, but you can't make him not blow up
Man breaks into home, then vacuums and folds laundry (possibly with a menacing scowl on his face)...