MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Paraguayan gov't denies knowledge of alleged plot against Castro

President Luis Gonzalez Macchi said Tuesday that Paraguay's government has no knowledge of an alleged plan to kill Cuban leader Fidel Castro, one of the dignitaries invited to the Aug. 15 inauguration of incoming chief executive Nicanor Duarte.

"There's no information, and I'm going to ask whether it's true or not," Gonzalez Macchi told reporters at the presidential palace in response to questions about rumors of an ostensible plot against the life of the Cuban leader.

Through a communiqué sent to business leaders and media outlets, a previously unheard-of organization called the "Paraguayan Anti-Communist Squadron" has encouraged an attack on Castro.

"Every soldier, policeman and civilian in possession of a weapon knows what to do with the murderer Fidel Castro," the message says.

"Asuncion will be the grave of international Marxism-Leninism." Castro has yet to confirm his trip, Gonzalez Macchi said, noting that the Cuban leader travels with his own bodyguards and that strict security measures would be in effect for all the dignitaries on hand.

"We're calling for extensive security, because there will be plenty of heads of state - about 10, in fact," he added.

While the organization calling for the attack on Castro is unknown in Paraguay, an outfit known as the Anti-Communist Action Group was active during the regime of Gen. Alfredo Stroessner, who ruled the country from 1954-89.

The latter organization was created by a group of followers of the then-dictator, now an exile in Brazil, and was disbanded after his regime collapsed.