MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Costa Rica demands OAS Secretary General resignation.

Costa Rican President Abel Pacheco called Monday for the resignation of Organization of American States Secretary General Miguel Angel Rodriguez following strong allegations he was involved in corrupt practices in his homeland.

Sources from President Pacheco's administration said that if Mr. Rodriguez, a former president of Costa Rica does not do as requested authorities will begin legal actions aimed at removing him from the post.

A former top aide to Mr. Rodriguez claims that while president in 2001 the current head of the Organization of American States received "commissions" that appear to have been multi million dollars kickbacks from the French telecommunications firm Alcatel, a supplier of the Costa Rican government.

Meanwhile, OAS representatives in Washington met Monday evening to discuss the case of Rodriguez, who only took over his new job three weeks ago.

Thanks to an OAS "vote of confidence" sponsored by United States, Brazil, Canada and Mexico during a meeting over the weekend, Mr. Rodríguez's resignation does not appear imminent according to diplomatic sources.