President of Guatemala to declare emergency

President Efrain Rios Montt, the target of bitter public criticism, will declare a state of emergency in Guatemala, a spokesman said. The military government also took the unusual step of broadcasting over all radio channels a message denying there had been an attempted coup against General Rios Montt and his administration.

No details were given on the state of emergency the military government plans to introduce. Even in the mildest form, the rights of assembly and free speech are ordinarily banned.