Opposition legislator and his brother killed in Guatemala

Jan 13, 2012, 21:44 GMT

Guatemala City - An opposition legislator and his brother were killed Friday by unidentified attackers in Guatemala.

Otto Perez Molina, who is set to be inaugurated Saturday as Guatemalan president, said the legislator, Oscar Leal, had been planning to switch over the Perez Molina's own Patriotic Party (PP) from the Lider party that he belonged to when he was elected last year.

Retired general Perez Molina said the legislator had been receiving threats for that reason. He did not identify the origin of the threats.

one of Leal's bodyguards was injured in the attack, which took place in the historic centre of Guatemala City. Leal and his brother were travelling in an all-terrain vehicle when they were shot from two motorbikes at a red light. They were en route to Congress.

Foreign delegations were arriving in Guatemala Friday, ahead of the inauguration ceremony.