Sawt Falasteen - Outgoing Costa Rica leader secures top post in new cabinet

Fernandez, Chaves' political heir, appointed him minister of the presidency -- a role akin to that of chief of staff but within the cabinet.

It puts Chaves in charge of the Intelligence and Security Directorate (DIS), which in the past has been accused by opponents of alleged political espionage -- a charge the government denies.

The position allows Chaves to retain immunity from prosecution.

Last year, he survived two attempts by Congress to strip him of his immunity so that he could be prosecuted for alleged corruption.

Government critics say that Fernandez, who will officially take over from Chaves on Friday, will be merely a vehicle for his agenda.

She has promised to continue his policy of taking in people of different nationalities who have been deported from the United States.

Fernandez, a political scientist, won February's presidential election by a landslide, after promising to crack down on rising violence linked to the cocaine trade.

Chaves was barred from seeking a second consecutive term.

Under Chaves, the Central American nation joined US President Donald Trump's "Shield of the Americas" alliance, which aims to combat drug trafficking in Latin America.

Chaves has had strained ties with local media, whom he accuses of defaming him.

On Saturday, the country's largest daily newspaper La Nacion, a critic of the Chaves administration, said the United States had revoked the visas of several of its executives.

The newspaper said its executives had received "no official explanation" for the "unprecedented" move.

F.Qawasmeh--SF-PST