Demonstrators protest against President Morales after he moved to expel a UN official Fabricio Alonzo/ReutersGuatemala’s president, Jimmy Morales, has triggered politcal turmoil after attempting to expel a UN anti-corruption lawyer sent to investigate top level malfeasance. An attempt to make Ivan Velasquez a persona non grata backfired when it was met with public protests, a string of high profile resignations and a rebuttal from the Guatemalan Constitutional Court which has left the country on edge. President Morales has been denounced by large sections of the international community, including the UK Charles Platiau/ReutersMr Morales, a right-leaning populist and former TV comedian who won a shock election on the back of an anti-corruption message, became embroiled in an anti-corruption probe following the removal of his predecessor Otto Perez in 2015 on bribery charges. Guatemalan prosecutors suspect Mr Morales of failing to declare about $1 million of electoral campaign funds. Attempts to strip the president of impunity to…

Source: The Times August 28, 2017 06:56 UTC