Guatemala general blocked again
Guatemala's Supreme Court
has suspended the
presidential candidacy of
former military leader Jose
Efrain Rios Montt.

The court made the decision
after an opposition candidate
appealed against the former
strongman's candidacy.

The suspension means that Mr
Rios Montt will be unable to run
as the candidate of the ruling
Republican Front unless he, in turn, succeeds in an appeal.

Earlier on Sunday, thousands of people marched through
Guatemala City to protest against the retired general - who
governed for 18 months following a coup in 1982.

Human rights groups accuse him of having ordered thousands
of killings and kidnappings during his rule.

Mr Rios Montt, 77, was barred from running in 1990 and 1995
because Guatemala's 1985 constitution bars former coup
leaders from running for the presidency.

This year the electoral tribunal and the supreme court also
ruled that he could not contest November's election.

However Mr Rios Montt's lawyers have argued that the 1985
constitution cannot be applied retroactively.

Last week they succeeded in getting the ban overturned by
the constitutional court - Guatemala's highest jurisdiction.