Argana is placed on a stretcher RELATED VIDEO Watch CNN International's coverage and analysis of the assassination Real 28K 80K Windows Media 28K 80K  Message Board: Latin America in transition

March 23, 1999
Web posted at: 2:46 p.m. EST (1946 GMT)

ASUNCION, Paraguay (CNN) -- Security forces searched Asuncion on Tuesday for assassins who cut down Vice President Luis Maria Argana, who was challenging Paraguay's president for the leadership of the ruling party.

Details of the attack were sketchy, but reports said two or three attackers in military or camouflage garb ambushed the vice president's car as he arrived at his office Tuesday morning.

Paraguay's president, Raul Cubas, appealed for calm.

"I call on all Paraguayans of good will to work for peace in Paraguay," he said after a meeting with his top aides. "We mourn the death of the vice president of the republic."

Cubas also closed Paraguay's borders.

Police and soldiers blocked downtown streets in the aftermath of the shooting. Some businesses were reported closed, and public transportation came to a halt for a short time.

Argana became vice president last year when former army chief Lino Oviedo, an ally and mentor of Cubas, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for attempting to oust then-President Juan Wasmosy in 1996. Oviedo had defeated Argana in a party primary.

The Paraguayan Congress voted last week to accuse Cubas of abuse of power for freeing Oviedo. The controversy split the Colorado Party into rival factions headed by Argana and Cubas.

The Colorado Party has ruled Paraguay for half a century, first under the dictatorship of Gen. Alfredo Stroessner, then under democracy since Stroessner was toppled in a coup in 1989. Argana had served as Stroessner's finance minister and as the country's Supreme Court chief.

No motive for the attack was immediately known, but Argana supporters were quick to point fingers at Cubas.

"Cubas is responsible," said Colorado Sen. Juan Carlos Galaverna. "I don't know who is the material author of this crime or who planned it, but it's the result of the violent ideology to which this society is subjected permanently."

Trade Union leader Alan Flores called on Cubas to resign.

"Our stance is to declare a general strike until this murderous president goes," he said.

Cubas said he had no intention of resigning.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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