Weekly Report - 24 October 2006

President Tabaré Vázquez stamped his authority on the armed forces last week by firing the commander-in-chief of the army for holding talks with former president Julio Marí­a Sanguinetti, a leader of the opposition Partido Colorado, and his former defence minister Yamandú Fau without seeking permission from the government. The dismissal will put more strain on relations between the government and the military.