Guatemala's President Stripped Of Immunity

Guatemala's president has been banned from leaving the country after he was stripped of immunity from prosecution.

Members of the Guatemalan parliament dealt Otto Perez Molina a serious blow with all 132 present voting to remove his immunity on Tuesday.

Prosecutors then persuaded a judge to impose the travel ban on the leader by saying he is suspected of illicit association, bribery and customs fraud.

They had previously said it was highly probable he is involved in a corruption scandal that has engulfed the country called "La Linea".

The 64-year-old retired general, who was elected on a ticket to combat crime and corruption, has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

It comes before a presidential election which is due to be held on Sunday.

Mr Perez cannot run for re-election under the constitution and is set to remain in office until a handover in January.

"La Linea", or "The Line", is said to involve bribes being paid by businesses in order to avoid import taxes.

The state is believed to have lost millions of dollars as a result.

The next step could see the president being summoned to appear before court or facing a warrant for his detention.

The vote did not remove Mr Molina from office, but under Guatemalan law, it is thought to be within a judge's power to suspend the president if he is detained awaiting a trial.

Mr Molina has already lost his vice president and various cabinet ministers as a result of the scandal.

He has said he will co-operate with investigators, but will not step aside.

But Mr Molina's opponents regard his being stripped of immunity as a major victory in what they see as a battle against corruption.

Attorney General Thelma Aldana said: "In the eyes of the justice system he is now a common citizen given he no longer has immunity, and so there will be a criminal prosecution against the president.

"Guatemala is showing that no one is above the law.

"As a result, this is a message for all current and future public servants that our behaviour must be subject to the constitution."

Mr Molina was elected in 2011 and caused controversy soon afterwards by proposing the legalisation of drugs and signalling his opposition to the US's "war on drugs".