Mercosur

• Tuesday, June 7th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Brazil's scandal: ruling party accused of bribery

  Brazil's ruling party was shaken Monday by accusations that it bribed lawmakers to maintain its coalition in Congress, raising fears of a scandal that could paralyze President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's government as it seeks to pass key reforms.

• Tuesday, June 7th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Argentina-Chile Inter-oceanic corridor launched

  The governor of Rio Negro, Miguel Saiz, launched the inter-oceanic cargo corridor, a project based on the use of the province's railway and the Cardenal Samoré throughway to link Puerto Montt and Puerto Corral, in Chile, to the deep water provincial ports of San Antonio Este and Punta Colorada.

• Tuesday, June 7th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  'Pinochet can face fraud charges'

  A Chilean appeals court has stripped former dictator Augusto Pinochet of immunity from prosecution so he can face tax fraud and other charges.

• Tuesday, June 7th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Santa Cruz Government disallows claim filed on fishery bribes

  Argentina_Santa Cruz Governor, Sergio Acevedo, disallowed on Monday a serious accusation submitted by a fishing company and denied government officials had been involved in the request of important bribes to grant fishing permits.

• Monday, June 6th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Bush pushes for free trade in OAS

  U.S. President George W.Bush told the 35th OAS General Assembly underway on Monday that the future peace and prosperity of the Americas would come through free trade.

• Monday, June 6th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  EU treaty referendum postponed

  Britain has “postponed” ratification of the European Union constitution, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has announced.

• Sunday, June 5th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Markets take heart as Uruguay breaks leftwing mould

  Danilo Astori is sitting at an imposing table in his oak-panelled office in Montevideo, filling the air with softly spoken words about his excellent relationship with the International Monetary Fund, improving the business environment and the inevitable end of Uruguay's state monopolies.

• Saturday, June 4th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Bielsa promises “Malvinas” campaign in OAS summit

  “Malvinas” is a priority issue which Argentina will present to the Organization of American Status (OAS) XXXVth. General Assembly which meets this Sunday until next Tuesday in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

• Saturday, June 4th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Euro caught up in EU crisis

  The Constitution was meant to make the EU work more smoothly after its enlargement to 25 states from 15 last year and had nothing to do with the euro set up by 12 members in 1999.

• Friday, June 3rd 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Debt swap concluded

  Argentina officially ended one of the most agonising periods of its recent history when it announced the completion of its record $100bn debt exchange on Thursday.