President Juan Maria Bordaberry of Uruguay on Wednesday (27 June) dissolved Parliament and replaced it with a newly-created special council. He also dissolved Uruguay's 19 Municipal Councils and replaced them with Boards of Appointees.

A Government Decree promulgated on Wednesday said Parliament was dissolved because of its recent refusal to lift the immunity of left wing senator Enrique Erro, who is accused of subversion. The decree said this refusal climaxed a long history of violation of the constitution by Congress.

The move, which is seen as the final instalment in a gradual military-backed coup, sparked nation-wide protest strikes in Uruguay on Thursday (28 June).

The strikes paralysed the nation's major industries, and several factories were taken over by strikers. Students at Montivideo University boycotted classes and no newspapers were published in protest.

At the same time s parliament was dissolved President Bordaberry imposed press censorship and restricted civil rights. The last coup in Uruguay was in 1947.