Latin America

• Monday, March 8th 2010 - 07:29 UTC

  Chileans say government responded “late and inefficiently” to earthquake

  

  Most Chileans are unhappy with their government's response to the catastrophic earthquake and squarely blame President Michelle Bachelet for shortcomings, according to a poll published over the weekend.

• Monday, March 8th 2010 - 07:18 UTC

  Latam conservative parties encouraged with recent electoral victories

  

  Latinamerican conservative political parties meeting in Central America said there has been a set back for the left wing in the region following on the recent conservative electoral victories in Chile, Costa Rica, Honduras and Panama.

• Saturday, March 6th 2010 - 15:35 UTC

  Sails of South America 2010 from Buenos Aires head for Ushuaia

  

  Bicentennial celebrations winds arrived in Buenos Aires this week with the imposing figure of eleven tall ships, wonderfully crafted relics of the past that will be docked until next Tuesday when they sail on to the South Atlantic.

• Saturday, March 6th 2010 - 15:34 UTC

  Tsunami warning failure sweeps away with head of hydrographical office

  

  The head of Chile's hydrographical and oceanographic service has been sacked following the earthquake and tsunami that killed about 500 people last week.

• Saturday, March 6th 2010 - 12:09 UTC

  Strong 6.6 aftershock hits Chile’s most damaged area

  

  Another strong aftershock jolted Chile nearly a week after the deadly 8.8 magnitude earthquake caused widespread destruction. In the badly-hit city of Concepcion, some residents ran into the streets Friday as the magnitude 6.6 tremor shook the area.

• Saturday, March 6th 2010 - 11:33 UTC

  Mujica will be present at Piñera’s inauguration but not Lula da Silva

  

  Uruguayan president Jose Mujica has confirmed his attendance to the inauguration of Chilean president elect Sebastián Piñera next March 11. However news from Sao Paulo indicates that President Lula da Silva will not be participating at the very austere ceremony to be held in Valparaiso.

• Friday, March 5th 2010 - 18:20 UTC

  Most Chilean fatalities may have resulted from tsunami, say officials

  

  Chilean disaster officials are now saying the majority of the country’s fatalities may have resulted from the earthquake-generated waves that struck coastal towns like Constitución, where 350 people were killed.

• Friday, March 5th 2010 - 06:58 UTC

  Strong 6.3 quake strikes northern Chile; three days national mourning

  

  Chile was shaken Thursday by a strong 6.3-magnitude earthquake that officials said was not an aftershock from the massive quake that killed hundreds and left two million in precarious living conditions last weekend.

• Thursday, March 4th 2010 - 21:18 UTC

  Half of Venezuelan population has “little or no confidence” in President Chavez

  

  Venezuelan voters' confidence in President Hugo Chávez is beginning to wane as a result of the electricity crisis, water rationing, economic measures, decisions limiting private property and attempts at leading the country into a Socialist system.

• Thursday, March 4th 2010 - 21:03 UTC

  Cost of rebuilding Chile estimated in 30 billion US dollars

  

  Chile’s plans to repair the damaged caused by last Saturday’s earthquake are likely to cost the nation an estimated 30 billion US dollars and three to four years work, according to EQECAT, a firm that evaluates catastrophe risk for insurers.