The permanent council of the Organization of American States (OAS) convened a special meeting Friday to discuss corruption allegations against its new secretary general, Miguel Angel Rodriguez, issued from his native Costa Rica. The special meeting was open to the press and was called by the president of the OAS permanent council, Panamanian Aristides Royo. Royo had said Wednesday that OAS members gave Rodriguez a "vote of confidence" while the corruption allegations were being clarified. However, Costa Rica and Argentina have called for Rodriguez to resign from the post that he assumed on September 15. Rodriguez has refused to step down as OAS chief, asserting that he had a right to the "presumption of innocence". He said he would answer allegations that he received a share of a 2.4-million-dollar kickback from French telecoms firm Alcatel, after it won a contract with Costa Rica's ICE communications monopoly during his 1998-2002 presidential term. Earlier Friday, Costa Rican Attorney General Francisco Dall'Anese warned that Rodriguez will be sought for questioning in the case. "I hope he comes. A former president must keep his word," Dall'Anese said in printed remarks. He said that the time and place for Rodriguez's questioning will be set next week. --SP 2232 Local Time 1932 GMT
