The Enigma Machine (video)

Guatemala president claims spying, head guard quits

05 Sep 2008 03:29:46 GMT

Source: Reuters

By Sarah Grainger GUATEMALA CITY, Sept 4 (Reuters) – The head of presidential security in Guatemala resigned on Thursday after President Alvaro Colom said he found cameras and voice recorders hidden in his offices and home. Colom said the devices could have been used for espionage but did not specify who he thought had planted them or why. “This is a very serious infiltration in the presidential palace. We have found seven recorders, two hidden cameras and two similar devices in my private office,” he told a news conference. “There are indications there are more in the window of my house.”

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Mics, cameras found in Guatemalan presidential palace

GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala (CNN) — Guatemalan President Alvaro Colom said Friday that government prosecutors are trying to determine who put microphones and video cameras in the presidential palace.

Guatemalan President Alvaro Colom: “Organized crime” may be behind cameras found in the presidential palace.

“It’s a serious allegation, it has never happened before in Guatemala,” he told CNN en Español.

He said he did not know who was responsible for the breach of security, but added, “One of the possibilities is organized crime.”

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Head of Brazil’s intelligence agency removed

BRASILIA, Brazil — Brazil’s president on Monday suspended the head of the nation’s intelligence service amid a scandal over wiretaps on the phones of top officials, including the chief justice of the Supreme Court.

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Brazil’s president tries to calm wiretap scandal

Associated Press – September 1, 2008 6:23 PM ET

BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) – Brazil’s president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (loo-EEZ’ ee-NAH’-see-oh LOO’-luh duh SEEL’-vuh), is embroiled in a political scandal.

The nation’s intelligence service is accused of tapping the phones of Brazil’s Supreme Court chief and other top officials. A news magazine has published purported transcripts of a conversation between Chief Justice Gilmar Mendes and opposition Senator Demostenes Torres.

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Impeachment talk amid Brazilian wiretap scandal

BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) – Some opposition leaders in Brazil say the country’s president could be impeached because of a wiretapping scandal.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has temporarily suspended the head of Brazil’s intelligence service. The action came after a news magazine revealed that phones belonging to Brazil’s chief justice, members of Congress and officials close to Silva were bugged by the intelligence agency.

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Top Brazilian official suspended for wiretap scandal

BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) – Brazil’s president is suspending the
head of the nation’s intelligence service in a scandal over
wiretaps of top officials.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s office announced Monday in
a news release that the suspension was taken to ensure full
disclosure in a coming investigation.

The statement says intelligence chief Paulo Lacerda has been
removed pending an investigation into wiretaps allegedly placed on
the phones of several top officials.

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Escándalo de espionaje en Brasil (Portuguese)

El presidente de Brasil, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, suspendió a todos los altos oficiales de la agencia de inteligencia de ese país.

La oficina del presidente anunció que la suspensión del jefe de inteligencia, Pablo Lacerda, se prolongaría hasta que se complete una investigación acerca del supuesto espionaje por parte de la agencia a altos funcionarios, políticos y al jefe de la Corte Suprema.

Dicha investigación había sido solicitada por dirigentes de oposición luego de que la revista Veja hubiese señalado por primera vez las acusaciones en torno a un supuesto espionaje telefónico a las personalidades del mundo político.

Veja señaló que la agencia de inteligencia, conocida como Abin, escuchó clandestinamente conversaciones de, entre otros, el presidente de la Corte Suprema, Gilmar Mendes.

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