Rodriguez insists he never took any bribes

The current Costa Rican leader, Abel Pacheco, called on Mr Rodriguez to return and "face his responsibilities".

Prosecutors last week said they wanted to question to him over an alleged bribe from the French telecommunications giant Alcatel.

Mr Rodriguez, who was president until 2002, has denied any wrongdoing.

Last week a former director of the state telephone company, Jose Antonio Lobo, testified that bribes were involved in the award of a big contract to Alcatel.

In a television interview Mr Rodriguez - who is based in Washington - said the money he received from Mr Lobo was a personal loan to defray the costs of his campaign to head the OAS.