Sala IV Begins Iraq War Support Hearing

JUDGES from the ConstitutionalChamber of the Supreme Court (Sala IV)yesterday began the review of threemotions of unconstitutionality filedagainst President Abel Pacheco for thecontroversial decision to support theU.S.-led invasion of Iraq last year.Ombudsman José Manuel Echandifiled one of the injunctions. Lawyer LuisRoberto Zamora and Dunia Chacón ofthe Costa Rican Lawyers’ Associationfiled the other two.Costa Rican law allows the Sala IVone month from the initial hearing to ruleon the motions, except in the case of“extreme complexity” surrounding themotions.Representatives of the JudicialBranch said a delay for that reason is notlikely.