Authorities in Guatemala say seven people, including police
officers, have been arrested in the killing of a prominent lawyer who
accused President Alvaro Colom of involvement in his death in a
posthumously released video.
The announcement was made Friday by
a special United Nations panel (known as the International Commission
Against Impunity in Guatemala) that has been investigating Rodrigo
Rosenberg's death. The panel was set up two years ago to probe
corruption in the Central American country.
Rosenberg was shot dead four months ago while riding his bicycle in Guatemala City.
In
the 18-minute recording that surfaced after his death, Rosenberg said
officials might want to kill him because he represented a businessman,
Khalil Musa, who was murdered in March, along with the man's daughter
(Marjorie). Rosenberg said his client refused to participate in acts of
corruption purportedly involving a local bank.
President Colom went on national television to dismiss the accusation and demand an outside investigation.
The
videotape also accused Mr. Colom's private secretary, Gustavo Alejos,
of orchestrating Rosenberg's murder and alleged the president's wife,
Sandra, was involved as well. The case prompted calls for the
president to step down.
President Colom took office in January of last year.
Some information for this report provided by AP.
