Paraguay's president fires military chiefs

ASUNCION, Paraguay, Apr 24 (Reuters) Paraguay's president has fired the South American country's three top military chiefs after opposition lawmakers sought the men's dismissal for criticising Congress.

Paraguay has been shaken by political instability and several coup attempts since democracy was restored in 1989, and opposition lawmakers had said the commanders' criticism amounted to a threat against the state.

''They're changes that the president had been formulating,'' said Defense Minister Roberto Gonzalez as he announced the dismissals late yesterday.

Last year, the heads of the army, navy and air force submitted a written statement criticising Congress for delaying the promotion of about 100 military officers.

Opposition legislators had put increasing pressure on center-right President Nicanor Duarte Frutos in recent days to reshuffle the military top brass over the affair, making the chiefs' dismissal a key condition to resolve political deadlock in parliament.

''Hopefully these changes will help,'' Gonzalez said.

Impoverished Paraguay was ruled by military strongman Alfredo Stroessner for 35 years until he was deposed in 1989.

Duarte Frutos also changed the heads of the agriculture ministry and the state energy company, Petropar, who each had also faced criticism from the opposition.

REUTERS SHB KP2224