Latin America

Monday, August 29th 2016 - 06:41 UTC
Morales claims killing of minister and three miners was a coup attempt

Morales claimed that the violent miners protests this week that resulted in the beating and killing of Deputy Interior Minister Rodolfo Illanes and the deaths of three demonstrators were the latest unsuccessful attempt by his political enemies to forcibly remove him from office.
Sunday, August 28th 2016 - 03:59 UTC
Eight Paraguayan soldiers executed by rural guerrillas following an attack on a patrol

Eight Paraguayan soldiers died on Saturday in a rural roadside explosion, followed by execution of survivors, 500 kilometers north of the capital Asunción, the government said, blaming it on a criminal group which identifies itself as the EPP, acronym for Paraguayan People's Army.
Sunday, August 28th 2016 - 03:56 UTC
Rousseff takes the stand on Monday, following the round of defense witnesses

Suspended Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff's former economy minister testified Saturday that Rousseff did not break any laws justifying impeachment, as her trial closed in on next week's climax. Rousseff is accused of taking illegal state loans to help bridge budget shortfalls and mask the true state of the economy during her 2014 reelection campaign. The president argues the charges are trumped up and amount to a rightwing coup.
Saturday, August 27th 2016 - 05:12 UTC
PM Theresa May congratulates President Santos on the historic peace deal

British Prime Minister Theresa May spoke with President Juan Manuel Santos to congratulate him about the historic peace deal with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). President Santos thanked the UK for its central role in helping reach the agreement.
Friday, August 26th 2016 - 11:07 UTC
Striking Bolivian mines kidnap and kill deputy Interior minister

Bolivian Deputy Interior Minister Rodolfo Illanes has been killed after being kidnapped by striking mineworkers, the government said late on Thursday. Illanes had gone to talk to protesters earlier on Thursday in Panduro, around 160 km from the capital, La Paz, but was intercepted and kidnapped by striking miners.
Friday, August 26th 2016 - 07:28 UTC
Colombia launches referendum campaign; doubts remain on peace accord terms

After sealing a historic peace accord with the FARC rebels, the Colombian government launched a campaign on Thursday to persuade voters to adopt it in a referendum on October 2.
Friday, August 26th 2016 - 07:10 UTC
Santos announces definitive ceasefire starting midnight Monday 29 August

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos ordered the army on Thursday to observe a definitive ceasefire with the FARC rebels after the two sides reached a deal to end their half-century conflict
Thursday, August 25th 2016 - 09:14 UTC
Mercosur fractured and in disarray: Venezuela isolated

Mercosur on Wednesday displayed another chapter of its internal disarray, almost farcical, when Venezuela which proclaims the presidency of the group convened a meeting at the Montevideo administrative offices that was only attended by full member Uruguay and aspiring member Bolivia.
Wednesday, August 24th 2016 - 06:06 UTC
A Mercosur/EU trade agreement will not include UK, warns European Parliament president

The president of the European Parliament Martin Schulz said in Buenos Aires that if finally a trade and cooperation agreement is reached between the European Union and Mercosur the United Kingdom will not benefit as a consequence of Brexit.
Saturday, August 20th 2016 - 05:40 UTC
Peru Supreme Court overturns sentence against ex president Fujimori for alleged diversion of public funds

Peru’s Judiciary overturned an eight-year sentence against former president Alberto Fujimori for alleged diversion of public funds to tabloids to facilitate his second re-election in 2000. The Supreme Court said in a ruling “there isn’t enough material evidence” to declare any criminal responsibility of Fujimori, who is serving another 25-year sentence in prison for crimes against humanity.