Paraguay leader tries to quell diplomatic fallout

ASUNCION, Paraguay (AP) — Paraguay's newly sworn in president is promising to honor foreign commitments and reach out to Latin American leaders to try to keep his country from becoming a regional pariah.

Federico Franco has begun forming his Cabinet. His first two appointments are an interior minister in charge of maintaining domestic security, and a foreign minister who will immediately go on the road to try to appease fellow members of the Mercosur regional bloc.

Former President Fernando Lugo's ouster by lawmakers on Friday has been widely condemned in Latin America, and Paraguay is seeking to minimize any potential fallout.

Franco said Saturday that his country is calm, activity is normal and there has been no "break with democracy."