The former Uruguayan army commander, Guido Manini Ríos, called Tabaré Vázquez a villain for the crisis of the armed forces.

The former commander-in-chief of the Uruguayan army Guido Manini Rivers badured Wednesday that the president of the country, Tabaré Vázquezhe had an attitude "channel"in the omission of the confessions of former military José Nino Gavazzo.

In this sense, Manini Ríos said at the launch of his candidacy for the presidency by the party Cabildo Abierto: "it hurts" and the "surprise"that the Uruguayan president"want to avoid liability"

On Monday, Vázquez demanded the resignation of the Minister of Defense, Jorge Menéndez -which will be replaced by politician José Bayardi-, and the deputy minister Daniel Montiel.

This situation occurred after the newspaper L & # 39; Observer published on 30 March of the Uruguayan Court of Honor, which contained documents Confession of former military officer Gavazzo, accused of committing crimes during the country's civil-military dictatorship (1973-1985).

The writings stated that in 1973 Gavazzo threw Tupamaro Roberto Gomensoro's body on the Negro River (center) to make it disappear.

"I am surprised and it hurts me that the President of the Republic wants to avoid his responsibility by acting with a total procedural lightness when he took up the Court of Honor, he did exactly what he had to do, because he had informed his superior of the acts he was committing, "said the former commander.

According to Manini Rios, this whole situation comes after a "intentional misrepresentation"from the newspaper article.

In addition, he maintained that there is a version "totally wrong"which states that the Uruguayan army's court of honor has covered the former military Gavazzo.

"The court of honor felt that it was not a new cause, but that it was a quid pro quo to give more delays to the court that was delayed." , he explained.

Similarly, he stated that he personally gave the Minister of the day Mr Menéndez the record of the Court's decision and that, in the last conversation he had with Vázquez, he had the material on his desk.

"It hurts me a lot to see how the Minister of National Defense was left seriously ill and can not defend himself"explained the former commander in reference to cancer that Menéndez is suffering.

For failing to report the confessions of the ex-military, Vázquez fired the new army chief, José González, and the chief of the Defense Staff, Alfredo Erramún.

In addition, he asked the Senate's approval to promote the mandatory retirement card for Generals Claudio Romano, Carlos Sequeira, Alejandro Salaverry and Gustavo Fajardo.

All the detached officers were part of the court of honor of the Uruguayan army.

The former commander and presidential candidate felt that Vázquez wanted to be firm but only "showed weakness"Al"screaming from a packed tribune"who only wants to harm the armed forces.

From the point of view of Manini Ríos, with all this situation, we tried to lead a campaign "seeks to spoil the candidate"and avoid its development as a new political option.

"It also aims to place the focus of discussion on Gavazzo and the past so that we do not talk about the present and the future."He concluded.

Manini Ríos was dismissed as commander-in-chief of the army in early March, after questioning the country's justice system.

(With EFE information)