ROANOKE TIMES 

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, June 3, 1993                   TAG: 9306030067
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: GUATEMALA CITY                                LENGTH: Short

GUATEMALAN VICE PRESIDENT SEIZES CONTROL

Guatemala's vice president proclaimed himself president Wednesday, disrupting an effort by political leaders to pick a replacement for ousted President Jorge Serrano.

Gustavo Espina Salguero's announcement came a day after the military forced out Serrano for imposing one-man rule, then apparently began to turn the country back on a democratic course.

The army named Espina Salguero as acting president while allowing political leaders to begin discussing a permanent successor. Espina Salguero was not among those named as a likely new permanent president.

Espina Salguero made the announcement from his home, surrounded by members of an elite military unit that he said were his security guards.

Presidency Secretary Antulio Castillo Barajas said Wednesday in a radio interview that Espina Salguero would "serve until the end of Serrano's term" in January 1996. - Associated Press 


 by CNB