Latin America

• Thursday, March 11th 2010 - 23:41 UTC

  EU Parliament condemns “avoidable and cruel” death of Cuban political prisoner

  

  The European Parliament adopted a resolution on Thursday strongly condemning the “avoidable and cruel” death of Cuban political prisoner Orlando Zapata and voicing its concern at the “alarming state” of another prisoner, Guillermo Fariñas.

• Thursday, March 11th 2010 - 04:46 UTC

  Conservative Piñera takes office with 59% of Chileans hopeful

  

  Chilean president elect Sebastián Piñera who takes office Thursday said the moment has come “to dry tears” and face the emergency in reference to the quake and tsunami follow-up which last Saturday devastated central Chile.

• Thursday, March 11th 2010 - 04:42 UTC

  Lula da Silva entangled in controversy over Cuban political prisoners

  

  Brazilian president Lula da Silva has become entangled in a controversy for having compared Cuban political prisoners with jailed criminals and was even severely criticized by members of his own party.

• Thursday, March 11th 2010 - 00:34 UTC

  Morales party set to win in Bolivia’s April regional elections

  

  The ruling party of President Evo Morales, Movement towards Socialism, MAS, is set to win the coming April regional elections with victories in six of the nine departments (provinces) in which the country is divided, according to the latest public opinion poll published by La Paz main daily La Razon.

• Wednesday, March 10th 2010 - 23:10 UTC

  Minister Bryant at Piñera’ inauguration praises Chilean resilience

  

  British Foreign Office Minister Chris Bryant visits Chile for the inauguration of President-elect Sebastian Piñera, Thursday March 11 and to see areas of Chile affected by the recent earthquake.

• Wednesday, March 10th 2010 - 22:55 UTC

  Implications of La Moneda Leadership in the Piñera Era and is the White House Prepared for a Vastly Changed Latin America

  

  The interim between Chile’s January 17th election and the inauguration of its victor, Sebastian Piñera, on March 11th, provides a useful opportunity to reflect on the course of recent U.S.-Chile relations, and the future prospects for cooperation, given the stand-pat tendencies of both governments.

• Wednesday, March 10th 2010 - 22:46 UTC

  Europe drafts condemnation of Castro brothers regime human rights policy

  

  Cuban dissident on hunger strike to protest against the detention of 26 ailing political prisoners has said he is “ready to die,” a Mexican newspaper has reported. “I am aware that I am in the last days of my life,” Guillermo Fariñas told the Reforma newspaper.

• Tuesday, March 9th 2010 - 23:24 UTC

  Bachelet retained her position as “the most loved leader” by Chileans

  

  A public opinion poll with the purpose of gauging support for Chilean President Michelle Bachelet in the last days of her government, after the devastating earthquake, showed that her standing remains intact at 84%, like in February.

• Tuesday, March 9th 2010 - 23:03 UTC

  Piñera promised to keep the Army displayed in areas worst hit by the quake

  

  Chilean President elect Sebastián Piñera announced that once he takes office, the military forces displayed in the areas worst hit by the February 27 earthquake will be retained. He also anticipated that the “state of catastrophe” in a very selective manner will be enforced in all those areas which are in need.

• Tuesday, March 9th 2010 - 20:33 UTC

  Violence and crime eroding the popularity of President Chavez

  

  It has been several years now since the Venezuelan government published official statistics on violence but according to a NGO that keeps records of crimes, last year 16.047 people were killed, compared to 14.800 in 2008 and 4.500 in 1998.