MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

OAS Secretary General resigns

Former Costa Rica president Miguel Angel Rodriguez submitted this Friday his resignation as Secretary General of the Organization of American States, OAS.

In his letter Mr. Rodriguez points out that the resignation is effective October 15 attributing his decision to the controversy over corruption allegations during his mandate as Costa Rica's president, 1998-2002

Mr. Rodríguez who took over the OAS post only last month is accused of having been involved in a bribe operation with French telecoms giant Alcatel in exchange for granting the company a lucrative government contract, according to claims from former members of his staff. "I'm leaving the post to dedicate myself exclusively to my defense and clearing the facts before the Costa Rican judicial officials", wrote Mr. Rodríguez. Current Costa Rican president Abel Pacheco who lobbied strongly among Latinamerican leaders for the nomination of Mr. Rodriguez had demanded his resignation because "I have made a fool of myself".

The letter was made public by Mr. Rodriguez a few minutes before the meeting of the OAS Permanente Council in Washington which must decide on the resignation. Deputy Secretary General Luigi Einaudi from the United States will be occupying the interim post.