THE GUATEMALAN PRESIDENT’S calls for discussions on the legalisation of drugs have been criticised.

President Otto Perez Molina said on Saturday that he will propose legalising drugs in Central America in an upcoming meeting with the region’s leaders.

Perez Molina said in a radio interview that his proposal would include decriminalising the transportation of drugs through the area.

“I want to bring this discussion to the table,” he said. “It wouldn’t be a crime to transport, to move drugs. It would all have to be regulated.”

It is reported in The Washington Post today that this decision has been criticised by the US Embassy in Guatemala, which released a statement saying that legalising drugs would not stop gangs that traffic drugs as well as people and weapons.

Fox News reports that in January, a few days after he took office, Perez Molina criticised the United States for being the world’s largest drug consumer.

He also criticised the USA for not making the same effort as Mexico in combating drug trafficking and made his first comments about wanting to open discussions about the legalisation of drugs.

- Additional reporting Associated Press