Mercosur

• Friday, May 20th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  “Energy difficulties, not energy crisis”

  Repsol-YPF CEO Antonio Brufau said Thursday that “there's no energy crisis in Argentina but rather energy difficulties” and called upon the Argentine people to save energy and let “oil and transport companies do what is needed in exploration and production”.

• Friday, May 20th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Green Party abandons Lula's coalition

  The Green Party which has a cabinet minister and seven seats in the Lower House announced Thursday it was abandoning the ruling coalition of President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva disappointed with the government's environmental policies.

• Friday, May 20th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Aerolineas Peru is born to compete with Lan Peru

  Peruvian president Alejandro Toledo announced Thursday the launching of Aerolineas del Peru, a company with strong Spanish participation and acting as subsidiary of Aerolineas Argentinas.

• Friday, May 20th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  “Tsunami of snow” traps Chilean soldiers in the Andes

  The Chilean Army and rescue workers searched for a second day on Thursday for dozens of soldiers trapped in the Andes following a blizzard that killed at least five of them.

• Friday, May 20th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Protests grip Argentina

  Argentina experienced a day of continuous protests that included the banking, educational, fishing and government sectors, which expressed their labor demands via strikes, demonstrations and street barricades.

• Thursday, May 19th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  IMF extends Argentina's repayment expectations

  The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved Wednesday a one-year extension of Argentina's repayment expectations to the IMF arising between May 20, 2005 and April 28, 2006 in a total amount equivalent to SDR 1.68 billion (about US$2.50 billion).

• Thursday, May 19th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Ecuador seizes arms for Colombian guerrilla

  Ecuador's Chief of Police said Wednesday that weapons seized this week in one of the country's capital Quito wealthy neighbourhoods were going to be sold to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia guerrillas.

• Thursday, May 19th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Bolivian oil conflict: Petrobras cuts investments

  Brazilian government Oil Company Petrobras which operates in Bolivia and is responsible for 20% of the country's GDP announced it will drastically reduce investments because of the latest controversial hydrocarbons bill.

• Thursday, May 19th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  “Terrorist” embarrassment for the Bush administration

  An alleged former CIA agent currently held in Miami who is accused of terrorism in Cuba and with a pending extradition request from Venezuela is causing growing embarrassment to President George Bush administration.

• Thursday, May 19th 2005 - 21:00 UTC

  Argentina: Tax breaks for energy sector

  President Néstor Kirchner and Federal Planning Minister Julio De Vido made the announcement flanked by most of the Cabinet, businessmen and trade union leaders in Government House yesterday.