Mercosur

• Saturday, March 18th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Ecuadorian Indians promise bigger blockades

  Protests by Ecuador's indigenous peoples against a proposed free trade deal with United States eased on Friday but leaders warned they will call bigger blockades if the government insists in signing the agreement.

• Saturday, March 18th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Chilean president Bachelet invited to Bolivia

  Bolivian President Evo Morales invited Chile's President Michelle Bachelet to celebrate the inauguration of his country's Constituent Assembly and Bolivia's National Holiday on August 6.

• Saturday, March 18th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Gibraltar/UK agree on text of new Constitution

  Following three days of deliberations in London, Gibraltar and the United Kingdom announced Friday they have agreed on the text of a new Constitution for the Overseas Territory.

• Saturday, March 18th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Cut scientific collaboration with Falklands, says Argentina

  The Argentine Foreign Affairs Ministry advised its scientists to abstain from contributing to research linked to the Falkland Islands and surrounding waters.

• Friday, March 17th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Uruguay reviewing links with Mercosur

  Given the mounting difficulties with Mercosur Uruguay is quietly considering different options for different scenarios including the possibility of abandoning the South American customs union, revealed the Uruguayan press in Montevideo.

• Friday, March 17th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Kirchner calls a beef boycott to force prices down

  Argentina President Nestor Kirchner administration launched Friday a public relations offensive against the beef industry urging consumers to switch to other foods if prices remain high.

• Thursday, March 16th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  UN creates new Human Rights Council

  Culminating months of intensive negotiations, the United Nations General Assembly voted overwhelmingly Wednesday on a resolution setting up a new Human Rights Council to replace the much-criticized Human Rights Commission ? prompting Secretary-General Kofi Annan to hail this as an “historic” development which will help improve the lives of millions of people worldwide.

• Thursday, March 16th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  March 24, “a day of memory, justice and truth”

  The official Argentine calendar has incorporated March 24 as a “National Day of memory, truth and justice”, in coincidence with the 30th anniversary of the military coup that inaugurated one of the bloodiest dictatorships the country has known in many decades.

• Thursday, March 16th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Three Peruvian presidential hopefuls technically tied

  With just over three weeks countdown to April 9 presidential election the Peruvian electorate is baffling candidates and public opinion pollsters. The latest poll this week in Lima shows three leading candidates technically tied.

• Thursday, March 16th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

  Protestors block weakened Ecuador government

  Ecuadorian Indians on Thursday promised to continue protests that have blocked the country's main north-south highway until the government stops negotiating a free trade agreement with the United States.