US Concerned Over Guatemalan President's Decision to Expel UN Anti-Graft Chief

The spokeswoman of the US Department of State expressed concern over the Guatemala's decision to bar the UN anti-corruption chief from the country.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The US Department of State is concerned with the decision of Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales to order Ivan Velasquez, the head of the UN-backed International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG), to leave the country, Heather Nauert, the spokeswoman for the department said in a statement.

"We are deeply concerned by Guatemalan President Morales' announcement of his decision to bar the United Nation's International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG) Commissioner Ivan Velásquez from the country," the statement, issued on Sunday, read.

Nauert said that the commission should be able to work "free from interference by the Guatemalan government" and added that the US State Department would be monitoring the situation.

According to media reports, Guatemala's constitutional court earlier on Sunday temporarily blocked the decision of the president, however, Morales appeared to stand firm.

Media reported earlier this week that Guatemala's attorney general and CICIG were seeking to investigate Morales over suspected campaign financing irregularities.