Latin America

• Wednesday, March 3rd 2010 - 07:03 UTC

  Hillary meets President Bachelet pledges US support for quake-stricken Chile

  

  Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pledged U.S. support Tuesday to earthquake-stricken Chile during the third stop on her six-nation tour of Latin America. Clinton told reporters in Santiago the US stands ready to help Chile in any way the government needs.

• Wednesday, March 3rd 2010 - 06:53 UTC

  Uribe’s presidential candidate leads in polls but could face run-off

  

  Former Colombian Defence Minister Juan Manuel Santos leads the race to succeed President Alvaro Uribe in a May election after a court barred the president from seeking re-election, according to a public opinion poll released this week.

• Wednesday, March 3rd 2010 - 06:51 UTC

  Venezuela’s economy contracts 3.3% in 2009; modest forecast for 2010

  

  Venezuela's economy fell by 3.3% in 2009 after contracting 5.8% in the last quarter, informed the Central Bank of Venezuela (BCV) which blamed the global crisis and falling prices for oil the country’s main export.

• Wednesday, March 3rd 2010 - 06:12 UTC

  Chile appeals for calm, deploys 14.000 troops in destroyed city

  

  Chile's president appealed on Tuesday for calm in the earthquake-ravaged city of Concepcion, vowing a stern response to any renewal of looting and violence. Michelle Bachelet said 14,000 troops are now in the region, after dozens of looters were arrested.

• Tuesday, March 2nd 2010 - 19:45 UTC

  An estimated 3.000 passengers waiting in Punta Arenas to fly back to Santiago

  

  Almost 3.000 people remained stranded Monday in Magallanes region, extreme south Chile, since Saturday’ devastating quake forced the temporary closure of Santiago’s main air terminal, according to reports in Punta Arenas.

• Tuesday, March 2nd 2010 - 04:52 UTC

  Thousands of Chilean troops sent to prevent looting in quake-hit Concepción

  

  Chilean president Michelle Bachelet sent on Monday thousands of extra troops to the main quake disaster area in the city of Concepcion as angry and hungry residents set fire to department stores.

• Tuesday, March 2nd 2010 - 04:29 UTC

  Lan resumes 15% of flights; priority bringing to Santiago stranded passengers

  

  Beginning Tuesday Lan Airlines resumes flying a skeleton national and international schedule out of a tent at the Santiago airport, according to a short notice from the Chilean flag carrier company.

• Monday, March 1st 2010 - 05:44 UTC

  First flights begin landing in Santiago airport, but no take offs are permitted

  

  The main airport in Chile’s Capital of Santiago allowed on Sunday the first few aircraft to land since the 8.8 mega quake struck the country Saturday morning. No aircraft however have been permitted to take off.
  A Lan flight from Lima was the first to land in early afternoon.

• Monday, March 1st 2010 - 05:39 UTC

  Chilean government admits tsunami-alert “diagnostic” system failed

  

  Chile's government conceded it made a mistake in initially playing down the risk of a tsunami from Saturday's massive earthquake. At a news conference in Santiago, Defence minister Francisco Vidal blamed the navy for what he called a “diagnostic error”.

• Monday, March 1st 2010 - 05:33 UTC

  Chile calls for aid and sends troops to prevent looting; body count reaches 710

  

  Chilean President Michelle Bachelet announced emergency measures to deal with the destruction caused by Saturday's massive earthquake. The 8.8 magnitude quake - one of the most powerful recorded - devastated central parts of the country, killing more than 710 people and leaving an estimated 2 million people out in the streets.