Thursday, August 20, 1998 Published at 11:34 GMT 12:34 UK
Paraguay parliament slams president
General Oviedo's supporters have been demanding his release
Both house of parliament in Paraguay have issued a declaration condemning the newly-installed President, Raul Cubas, for his decision to release from prison a controversial former army commander, General Lino Oviedo.
The declaration, which was supported by members of the ruling Colorado party as well as by the opposition, opens the way for possible impeachment moves against the president.
General Oviedo was serving a 10-year sentence for plotting a coup against the previous president.
Earlier, Carlos Cubas, the brother of the president, resigned from the government in protest over the decision to free General Oviedo.
He is believed to sympathise with a rival faction of the governing Colorado Party, which has accused the president of acting illegally.
President and general: Close allies
The general was the presidential candidate of the Colorado Party at the time of his jailing, but stepped down in favour of Mr Cubas, who won the election last May.
The BBC's South America correspondent James Reynolds says the two men are close allies and President Cubas has made it clear that freeing Mr Oviedo was an immediate priority.
Lino Oviedo is reported to have left the military barracks on the outskirts of the capital, Asuncion, was he was being held.
Prior to his release, he said he wanted to travel the country on horseback to report to President Cubas on the problems facing Paraguay.