Lawmakers vote to oust Paraguay's president  Associated Press
Modified: June 22, 2012 at 5:16 pm •  Published: June 22, 2012
ASUNCION, Paraguay (AP) — Paraguay's Senate voted to remove
President Fernando Lugo from office on Friday in an impeachment
trial that plunged the South American country into a crisis.
After a quick, five-hour trial, 39 senators voted to dismiss
Lugo, while four senators voted against and two were absent.
Based on the decision, Lugo is to be replaced by Vice President
Federico Franco of the Authentic Radical Liberal Party.  Crowds
of pro-Lugo protesters took to the streets condemning the
impeachment trial and expressing support for the president.
Police in anti-riot gear drove them back on horseback and using
water cannon.  Paraguay's lower house of Congress voted to
impeach Lugo on Thursday. The Senate tried him on five charges
of malfeasance in office, including an alleged role in a deadly
confrontation between police and landless farmers that left 17
dead.  Venezuelan Foreign Minis