14 Apr 2009

Paraguay leader admits love-child

8:24 am on 14 April 2009

President Fernando Lugo of Paraguay has acknowledged that he fathered a child while he was a Catholic bishop.

Mr Lugo, who took office last August, made a televised address on Monday accepting paternity of the one-year-old boy.

He admitted having an intimate relationship with Viviana Carrillo, 26, the child's mother.

Mr Lugo received permission from the Pope to leave the priesthood and run for political office.

He said he would not comment further on the matter, adding that he wanted to protect the privacy of the boy.

Mr Lugo, 57, resigned as bishop of the San Pedro province in 2004, and announced he would run for the presidency two years later. He was registered as a bishop until last year.