British Prime Minister Tony Blair dispelled fears that plans to build new carriers and destroyers for the Royal Navy and procure new transport aircraft for the RAF will not go ahead, emphasizing that we've got the largest warship building programme for decades under way.
Some 66 left wing delegations from thirty different countries, mainly Latinamerica are currently meeting in San Salvador in the framework of the Sao Paulo Forum, to celebrate and assess the advance last year of elected left wing governments in the region, as happened in Nicaragua, Ecuador, Brazil and Venezuela.
Rafael Correa was sworn as Ecuador's president Monday and one of the first decrees he signed was to call a national referendum next March 18 to decide on the convening of an elected assembly with full powers to draft a new constitution.
Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez and the Organization of American States Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza shook hands Monday in Quito bringing relief to the conflicting situation between both officials.
Praising democracy and in a clear support of fellow presidents seen as critical of United States, Chile's Michelle Bachelet said that the latest swing of elected governments in Latinamerica can be better described as progressive rather than left wing or radical.
Former Brazilian president Jose Sarney, (1985/1990) admitted that Mercosur was undergoing a crisis situation but it's something normal to the development of a customs' union.