On Friday morning, Fernando Lugo was president of Paraguay.<br/> <br />By the evening, he'd been impeached, removed from office and replaced - by this man, his rival Federico Franco.<br/> <br />Lugo, a former Roman Catholic bishop, was found guilty by the senate of mishandling armed clashes last week when 17 police and famers were killed.<br/> <br />But the lightning-quick impeachment has been condemned by Paraguay's neighbours who are likening it to a coup.<br/> <br />In Buenos Aires, Argentine President Cristina Fernandez refused to accept Franco, calling the move an attack on institutions that took the region backwards.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CRISTINA FERNANDEZ DE KIRCHNER, ARGENTINE PRESIDENT, SAYING:<br/> <br />"This is a definitive, direct attack on the institutions and they truly do them damage and repeat situations that we thought we in South America, in the region in general, had absolutely surpassed."<br/> <br />Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa echoed her comments, saying the move damaged the region's democracies and should not be covered up.<br/> <br />In Venezuela, Hugo Chavez said his government would not recognize Paraguay's 'illegal, null and void new government'.<br/> <br />And in Colombia, President Juan Manuel Santos said he regretted Lugo's removal and called for impeachment procedures not to be abused.<br/> <br />Paraguay, whose presidents are limited to one term, had been due to hold new elections in 2013.<br/> <br />Sunita Rappai, Reuters
