Focus on Paraguay at start of Mercosur summit

The Associated Press

MENDOZA, Argentina (AP) — Latin American foreign ministers gathering for a regional summit are discussing the idea of sanctioning Paraguay's new government for ousting its president in a quick impeachment trial.

Leaders of Argentina, Brazil and other countries in the region have already reacted angrily to last week's ouster of Fernando Lugo in the wake of a land dispute that killed 17 people.

Members of the four-nation Mercosur bloc have said they may review possible economic sanctions against the new Paraguayan government led by former Vice President Federico Franco. The group's summit starts Thursday in Mendoza, Argentina.

Franco has been barred from the summit, and Lugo has said he won't attend.

Argentine President Cristina Fernandez has called Lugo's removal a coup and said that Paraguay could be suspended from Mercosur for violating democratic principles.