Latin America

• Wednesday, December 5th 2012 - 18:26 UTC

  Chevron dispute with Ecuador discussed by Correa with Cristina Fernandez

  

  Ecuador's President Rafael Correa said he discussed with his Argentine counterpart Cristina Fernandez the legal dispute with US oil giant Chevron that has spilled over into her country.

• Wednesday, December 5th 2012 - 17:20 UTC

  Argentine Jewish organizations slam President Correa ‘disdainful words’ towards terrorist attacks’ victims

  

  Argentine Jewish organizations strongly criticized Ecuador’s president, Rafael Correa after he defended the Iranian government, comparing the 85 people killed in the 1994 AMIA attacks in Buenos Aires with the victims of “NATO bombings in Libya” in 2011.

• Wednesday, December 5th 2012 - 05:22 UTC

  Dealing with Argentina “one of the most painful problems” admits President Mujica

  

  Uruguayan president Jose Mujica confessed that dealing with neighbouring Argentina is “one of the most painful problems” faced by his administration given the weight of the Argentine economy.

• Wednesday, December 5th 2012 - 05:15 UTC

  Correa defends close links with Iran and downplays the AMIA bombing in Buenos Aires

  

  Ecuadorean president Rafael Correa triggered a serious controversy in Argentina when he defended close links with Iran and downplayed Teheran’s alleged role in the 1994 attack on the AMIA Jewish institution in Buenos Aires that killed 85 people and left hundreds injured.

• Wednesday, December 5th 2012 - 05:08 UTC

  Human rights commission demands urgent investigation into killing of Paraguayan peasant leader

  

  The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) condemns the murder in Paraguay of human rights defender Vidal Vega, leader of the Campesinos sin Tierra movement (Landless Campesinos) and president of the Committee of Relatives of Victims of the Curuguaty Massacre and urges the State of Paraguay to investigate and clear up these crimes, and punish those who perpetrated and masterminded them.

• Tuesday, December 4th 2012 - 18:34 UTC

  OAS envoy open support for Paraguayan president Franco and electoral process

  

  The head of the Organization of Americas States, OAS electoral observers’ mission said that Federico Franco was the legitimate democratic president of Paraguay committed to holding transparent elections next April, elections which nobody in the world questions.

• Tuesday, December 4th 2012 - 16:10 UTC

  Mexico strikes largest on land light oil deposit in a decade

  

  Mexico’s government oil and gas giant Pemex confirmed the discovery of a crude reserve which could hold over 500 million barrels, and described as the largest on land strike in the last decade.

• Tuesday, December 4th 2012 - 16:03 UTC

  January 10, a decisive date for the Venezuelan political situation

  

  As we approach January 10, or even before New Year, the big news will be if a re-elected president but physically handicapped and sick is capable of taking the oath for another six years for which he was re-elected last 7 October, says Nelson Bocaranda, probably the best informed journalist in Venezuela whose reports have sustainedly proven right.

• Tuesday, December 4th 2012 - 03:12 UTC

  Bolivia confirms willingness to become Mercosur full member at Friday’s summit

  

  Bolivia will announce to its peers at the Mercosur summit in Brasilia, later this week that it is willing to adhere to the trade block as a full member, reported Amanda Dávila, Communications minister.

• Tuesday, December 4th 2012 - 03:07 UTC

  Brazil says Venezuela leader Chavez will attend the Mercosur summit Friday

  

  Venezuela's President Hugo Chávez will travel to Brazil for the Mercosur summit next Friday despite cancer-related medical treatment in Cuba, Brazil's ambassador revealed on Monday.