Latin America

• Saturday, July 25th 2009 - 10:39 UTC

  Ousted president Zelaya completes symbolic crossing into Honduras

  

  The ousted president of Honduras briefly crossed on Friday the country's border with Nicaragua, in a symbolic move that United States described as “reckless”.

• Friday, July 24th 2009 - 14:17 UTC

  Uruguay, Chile, Argentina less insecure than the rest of the continent

  

  Uruguay, Chile and Argentina have lower levels of insecurity than the rest of Latinamerica according to secretary general of the Organization of American States Miguel Insulza who said he was against more severe punishments as a strategy to improve security.

• Friday, July 24th 2009 - 14:06 UTC

  Ambassador “recovers” Honduras embassy in Mexico for Zelaya

  

  Honduran diplomat Rosalinda Bueso Asfura recovered Wednesday control of the Honduras embassy in Mexico City which had been taken over by adepts to the de facto government of interim President Roberto Micheletti.

• Thursday, July 23rd 2009 - 15:00 UTC

  Mediators say Zelaya must return to Honduras Friday

  

  Ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya should return home on Friday, mediators in the crisis have said. But the country's interim authorities, who removed him, have said they will not bow to international demands for his reinstatement.

• Wednesday, July 22nd 2009 - 13:51 UTC

  Expelled Venezuelan diplomats challenge Honduras de facto government

  

  Venezuelan diplomats rejected comminatory orders to abandon Honduras in 72 hours saying their expulsion was decided by an illegitimate government which is not recognized by the administration of President Hugo Chavez.

• Wednesday, July 22nd 2009 - 08:31 UTC

  Growing number of Chileans opting for domestic tourism

  

  Given current health and budget concerns, fewer Chileans are travelling abroad these days. Domestic tourism, however, continues to be a booming internal industry.

• Wednesday, July 22nd 2009 - 08:28 UTC

  Brazil tells Hillary of dissatisfaction with Arias mediation in Honduras crisis

  

  Brazilian Foreign Affairs Minister Celso Amorim phoned last weekend US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who was in New Delhi, India, to “express concern” about the slow pace and handling of the negotiations for the reinstatement of the democratic order in Honduras, reports Folha do Sao Paulo.

• Wednesday, July 22nd 2009 - 08:25 UTC

  Nicaraguan opposition condemns President Ortega’s re-election appeal

  

  Nicaraguan opposition members in Congress condemned this week a public appeal for constitutional changes by President Daniel Ortega as an attempt to extend term limits and eventually allow the populist leader's re-election.

• Wednesday, July 22nd 2009 - 07:06 UTC

  Venezuela reacts angrily to US report on cocaine smuggling and corruption

  

  Venezuela said United States must stop publishing “interventionist” reports criticizing the country’s drug interdiction practices in order for relations to improve. A report released Monday by the US Government Accountability Office, GAO, amounts to “political blackmail” warned the Venezuelan Foreign Affairs ministry in an e-mailed statement

• Wednesday, July 22nd 2009 - 06:58 UTC

  Panama praises “professionalism” of Honduras Army in the crisis

  

  Panamanian Vice-president and Foreign Affairs minister Juan Carlos Varela praised the Honduran Army for its “professionalism” in dealing with the political crisis of the country in spite of repeated claims of repression from human rights organizations.