US Ambassador to Asuncion Francis Keane informed Friday his country would give Paraguay financial assistance to fight corruption, money laundering and terrorism.

This group is the first of a total of 13, with the possibility the number may increase, and will stay in Paraguay until December 31 2006, as determined by the Commission of Constitutional Affairs of the Paraguayan Senate.

The request had been sent to the Ministry of National Defense, after an agreement came into force on June 1 granting US troops total immunity in Paraguay.

Besides having the same prerogatives of a diplomat, these soldiers will not be held accountable for damages caused to public health, the environment or the country's resources.

Medical registrations and driving licenses these soldiers bring from their native country will also be automatically recognized.

This concession, and the progressive increase of Pentagon forces in Paraguay, has caused alarm in political and social circles, and constitutes one of the strongest US blows to the South Common Market (MERCOSUR), humanitarian and social organizations in Argentina told the Paraguayan press.

Nobody doubts these soldiers will make incursions on the Triple Border Zone (Paraguay, Brazil and Argentina), chosen by Washington to install a military camp with rapid response troops.

In Mariscal Estigarribia, close to the Paraguayan border with Bolivia, there is an airport built by the US for landing of B-52 and Galaxy planes, which are designed to transport large consignments of troops and weapons.