US urges Guatemala to ensure no interference in election after raid

Protesters demonstrate outside the Constitutional Court of Guatemala during the 'March of the Flowers' against the political persecution of the Guatemalan presidential candidate Bernardo Arevalo's Semilla party, in Guatemala City, Guatemala July 23, 2023. REUTERS/Cristina Chiquin

GUATEMALA CITY (Reuters) - Senior U.S. Department of State official Brian Nichols said on Monday he had spoken with Guatemalan Foreign Minister Mario Bucaro to stress the need to hold a free and fair run-off in the Central American country's presidential election next month.

Nichols said on Twitter he had highlighted the need to "proceed without interference or harassment of candidates and parties," following attempts to suspend the party of anti-graft candidate Bernardo Arevalo.