Paraguay booted from regional blocs

Just days after controversially impeaching its president, Paraguay is a country non-grata at this meeting of South American leaders.

The heads of state kicked the small-landlocked nation out of two regional bodies - UNASUR and MERCOSUR - during sessions over the weekend.

That prompted an angry reaction from Paraguay's foreign minister.

(SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PARAGUAYAN FOREIGN MINISTER, JOSE FERNANDEZ ESTIGARRIBIA, SAYING:

"The decision isn't just illegal, but is also illegitimate. The adopted decision has no formal or material validity."

The move to exclude Paraguay came after its senate impeached president Fernando Lugo last week on charges of malfeasance.

That process lasted just two days and some South American leaders have called Lugo's ouster a coup.

Andrew Raven, Reuters