Guatemala News

Anti-president protests during Guatemala independence day

By AFP

Guatemala City - Street protests demanding President Jimmy Morales step down erupted across Guatemala on Friday, as the country celebrated its 1821 independence from Spain.

Central America cracks down on gangs in coordinated swoops

By AFP

Sansalvador - Central America's "northern triangle" -- consisting of its most crime-ridden nations -- waged a coordinated crackdown this week on two major gangs infamous for extortion, murder and violence: Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and Barrio 18.

Guatemala congress keeps president's immunity despite corruption probe

By AFP

Guatemala City - Guatemala's congress on Monday voted overwhelmingly to reject a UN-backed request to lift the immunity of President Jimmy Morales in order for him to face a corruption probe over irregular party financing.

Guatemala police nab 170 in swoop on extortion rings

By AFP

Guatemala City - Guatemalan police and prosecutors on Monday arrested at least 170 people suspected of belonging to gang-linked groups that extorted money from shopkeepers and bus companies under threats of violence and murder, officials said.

Guatemala president's immunity should be lifted, lawmakers say

By AFP

Guatemala City - A congressional committee in Guatemala has recommended President Jimmy Morales' immunity be lifted to face a UN-backed probe into suspected illegal campaign financing in the 2015 election that brought him to power.

Guatemala congress to weigh lifting president's immunity

By AFP

Guatemala City - Guatemala's congress is to decide whether to lift the immunity of President Jimmy Morales to face corruption allegations after the supreme court on Monday referred the issue to lawmakers.

Party of Guatemala's president suspended for unpaid fine

By AFP

Guatemala City - The party of Guatemala's embattled President Jimmy Morales was ordered to suspend administrative functions on Friday after missing a deadline to pay a $60,000 fine for delayed filing of election financing in 2015.

UN official to stick to antigraft job after Guatemala expulsion blocked

By AFP

Guatemala City - A UN official leading anti-corruption efforts in Guatemala said Thursday he would press on with his task after an expulsion order against him by President Jimmy Morales was scrapped by the country's top court.

Guatemala court overrules leader's order expelling UN anti-graft official

By AFP

Guatemala City - Guatemala's top court on Tuesday scrapped a widely criticized order by President Jimmy Morales expelling a UN anti-corruption official who is investigating graft allegations against him.

Guatemala president faces protests in corruption row

By AFP

Guatemala City - Protesters yelled Monday for Guatemala's President Jimmy Morales to quit in a political crisis, after courts blocked his bid to expel a UN official investigating corruption allegations against him.

Guatemala faces crisis after president turns on UN man

By AFP

Guatemala City - Guatemala faced a fresh political crisis Sunday as President Jimmy Morales tried to expel a UN official investigating him for suspected corruption, but was overruled by the courts.

Guatemala orders expulsion of UN graft investigator

By AFP

Guatemala City - Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales on Sunday ordered the expulsion of a top UN anti-corruption official who had moved to strip him of his immunity over party finance allegations, raising fears of a fresh political crisis in the country.

Guatemala hospital shooting kills 2 children, 5 adults

By AFP

Guatemala City - Seven people including two children were killed and 12 injured in a gang shooting in a hospital in Guatemala on Wednesday, officials said.

Caribbean braces for Tropical Storm Franklin

By AFP

Mexico - Mexico, Belize and Guatemala braced Monday for Tropical Storm Franklin, expected to make landfall overnight on the southern Mexican coast -- possibly at hurricane strength.

Mexican ex-governor Duarte extradited on graft charges

By AFP

Mexico - Mexican ex-governor Javier Duarte was extradited from Guatemala on Monday to face corruption and racketeering charges back home, one of a string of scandals involving ex-governors that are threatening President Enrique Pena Nieto's government.

Guatemala extradites Mexican ex-governor Duarte

By AFP

Guatemala City - Guatemala extradited Mexican ex-governor Javier Duarte Monday to face racketeering and money-laundering charges back home, one of a series of scandals involving ex-governors that have embarrassed President Enrique Pena Nieto's government.

Guatemala to extradite fugitive ex-governor to Mexico

By AFP

Guatemala City - Guatemala will extradite Mexican ex-governor Javier Duarte to face racketeering and money-laundering charges after he told a court Tuesday he wanted to return home to clear his name.

Fugitive Mexican ex-governor accepts extradition

By AFP

Guatemala City - A Mexican former governor wanted on corruption charges agreed on Tuesday to be extradited from Guatemala back to his country.

6.8-magnitude quake hits Guatemala, second in eight days: USGS

By AFP

Guatemala City - A powerful 6.8-magnitude earthquake hit near Guatemala's coast Thursday, injuring four people and damaging homes and roads, officials said, just eight days after another strong tremor killed five people in the Central American country.

Guatemala mudslide kills 11: officials

By AFP

Guatemala City - A mudslide in an indigenous village in Guatemala killed 11 people and injured at least nine more on Tuesday, the emergency services said.

Guatemala's jailed former VP agrees to extradition to US

By AFP

Guatemala City - Guatemala's former vice president, in jail pending possible trial for alleged graft, said Thursday she had agreed to be extradited to the United States to face charges related to drug trafficking.

Five dead after strong quake hits Guatemala

By AFP

Guatemala City - A strong 6.9 magnitude earthquake hit Guatemala and southern Mexico Wednesday, killing five people, causing power outages, and knocking down homes, officials said.

Two dead after strong quake hits Guatemala

By AFP

Guatemala City - A strong 6.9 magnitude earthquake hit western Guatemala early on Wednesday, killing at least two people and causing power outages, as well as damage to some buildings, officials said.The quake, originally estimated to measure 6.

Prosecutors seek to lift Guatemala leader's immunity over deadly blaze

By AFP

Guatemala City - Guatemala's attorney general said Monday her ministry would seek to lift the immunity of President Jimmy Morales so he can respond to accusations he was legally responsible for the deaths of 41 girls in a shelter fire three months ago.

Mexico, Guatemala to boost help for migrants deported from US

By AFP

Guatemala City - Mexico and Guatemala on Tuesday said they would boost the help they give to their citizens deported back home, especially from the United States.

El Salvador captures escaped female killer 'Boss'

By AFP

Guatemala City - Security forces in El Salvador on Thursday captured the female leader of a hit-squad-for-hire two weeks after she escaped from a Guatemalan prison where she was serving a 94-year sentence, officials said.

Guatemala launches search for fugitive female assassin boss

By AFP

Guatemala City - Guatemalan security forces launched a search for the female leader of a hit squad for hire after she escaped the prison where she was serving a 94-year sentence.

Guatemala volcano eruption subsides after hasty evacuations

By AFP

Guatemala City - Activity at a volcano near Guatemala's capital went back to normal on Saturday, officials said, a day after 300 people were evacuated as it spat hot ash high into the air.The so-called Volcano of Fire lies 35 kilometers (22 miles) from Guatemala City.

Mexico seeks extradition of ex-governor

By AFP

Guatemala City - Mexico has asked Guatemala to extradite a fugitive former governor suspected of embezzling hundreds of millions of dollars, officials said.

Fugitive Mexican ex-governor arrested in Guatemala

By AFP

Mexico - A fugitive former governor of Mexico's Veracruz state suspected of embezzling hundreds of millions of dollars has been detained in Guatemala after six months on the run, officials said Saturday.