El Salvador sacks ambassador to Honduras for accepting decoration

The Salvadorian Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that Sigifredo Ochoa Perez was deposed as Salvadorian ambassador to Honduras for accepting a decoration from the de facto government of Honduras without authorization.

Foreign Minister Hugo Martinez deposed Ochoa as he defaulted the Salvadorian Constitution by receiving recognition without authorization of the Salvadorian Legislative Assembly, according to a foreign Ministry statement.

Ochoa was military chief during the Salvadorian civil war in 1980-1992 and he was appointed to the diplomatic service by the past administration, now the opposition.

Ochoa was to leave his charge at the end of 2009. However, Martinez said that he was not dismissed for finishing his services, but "for have committed faults" deserving an official notification to the General Prosecutor's Office of the Republic.

The de facto Honduran government, in power since the coup of June 28 against then President Manuel Zelaya, gave Ochoa the Morazan Order decoration in Great Cross of Silver Plate Degree, which is the highest decoration awarded to diplomats fulfilling their work in Honduras.

Source: Xinhua