Argentina's Lower House Budget Committee gave this week majority support to the extension of the controversial Economic Emergency Act, passed during the 2002 crisis, until December, 2008.
Three independent United Nations human rights experts on Friday voiced concern about planned constitutional reforms in Venezuela, saying the proposed changes could curb civil liberties and breach the South American country's international treaty commitments.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez threatened Friday to interrupt oil exports to the United States if violence breaks out after a controversial and hotly contested weekend referendum.