Rodriguez Resigns

OAS chief resigns amid bribery charges ---

The head of the Organization of American States resigned
Friday, just two weeks into his tenure, after
allegations that he participated in a bribery scandal
involving a French telephone company.

Secretary-General Miguel Angel Rodriguez, from Costa
Rica, disclosed his resignation in a letter read to a
special session of the OAS permanent council. The
resignation takes effect on Oct. 15.

The first allegations of wrongdoing against Rodriguez
surfaced Sept. 30 and prompted a demand for his
resignation by President Abel Pacheco of Costa Rica.

In his letter, Rodriguez said he did not want to subject
the OAS to a "cruel and long persecution of its
secretary-general," not only in judicial proceedings but
also in the media.

"With humility, pain and anguish, I ask you and your
countries for forgiveness for making you endure this
difficult period," Rodriguez said in his letter. It was
read to the 34-member council by Costa Rica's ambassador
to the OAS, Luis Guardia.

The former Costa Rican president will be succeeded by
the second-ranking official in the OAS, American Luigi
Einaudi, a former State Department official.

Rodriguez decided to quit after Costa Rica's attorney
general said Rodriguez does not have immunity from
prosecution on allegations that he accepted $140,000 in
a deal involving the French telephone company Alcatel.

Rodriguez was sworn in Sept. 23 to a five-year term as
chief of the world's oldest regional organization.
Eleven hemisphere heads of state and government attended
the ceremony at OAS headquarters in Washington.

By GEORGE GEDDA
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER


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