GUATEMALA: Election Officials Negate Bid Of President Colom's Ex Wife To Succeed Him.

BBC


The Supreme Electoral Court flatly rejected ex-first lady Sandra Torres' presidential candidacy...on the grounds of "supposed legal fraud".


Sandra Torres has gone to great lengths to succeed her husband President Alvaro Colom...by recently divorcing him after 8 years of marriage...because of a constitutional ban on close relatives of the president running for the job.


Her party's leaders said they would appeal.

GUATEMALA: Court Clears Way For Controversial Prez. Colom Divorce.

LAHT/

    Family court Judge Mildred Roca dismissed 15 challenges to a divorce request by the wife of President Alvaro Colom, clearing the way for Sandra Torres de Colom (pictured)...to run for the presidency.
     Opponents claim her divorce is simple "electoral fraud"... a way to get around a constitutional ban that stops Colom's extended family from running for the office.
     The ruling can be still be appealed.

GUATEMALA: Court Temporarily Blocks President Colom's Controversial Divorce.

BBC/

   A 21 March divorce request by the wife of President Alvaro Colom that some opponents labelled..."electoral fraud"... and even "love fraud"...has been temporarily blocked by a judge for an appeal.
   Critics claimed it would allow Sandra Torres de Colom to get around a constitutional ban on a president's family from running for the presidency.
   Sandra Torres is President Colom's third wife and  already a divorcee. They have been married for eight years.

GUATEMALA: Prez. Colom's Wife Seeks Divorce...So She Can Succeed Him.

BBC

  Apparently hungry to maintain family control, first lady Sandra Torres de Colom is ending her eight-year marriage...so she can try to succeed her husband President Alvaro Colom.
   The constitution prohibits members of a president's extended family from running for the presidency.
    The divorce could be final in about 30 days.

GUATEMALA: President Colom's Wife Wants To Succeed Him; Lawyers For Penicillin Study Victims Set Deadline For U.S.

BBC

   Sandra Torres de Colom wants to succeed her husband President Alvaro Colom in September's elections...despite a constitutional ban on relatives.
   She claims there a "popular clamor" for her to run.
   Her lawyers argue the ban infringes on the right of all Guatemalans to stand for election.

AND:    Lawyers for Guatemalans deliberately given gonorrhea or syphilis decades ago have issued a Friday deadline for the U.S. to settle claims out of court...or face legal action.
     Hundreds of prisoners and the mentally ill were infected in penicillin studies-- without their consent.
     The US government has officially apologized for the "reprehensible" experiments.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-12688797