Politics

• Wednesday, August 5th 2009 - 12:43 UTC

  Uribe tours South America in support for his military plans with the US

  

  Colombian president Alvaro Uribe is visiting most South American countries to explain the extent of the understanding currently under discussion with Washington and which will enable an increase of US military personnel distributed in several Colombian bases, an initiative which has received strong reactions across the continent.

• Wednesday, August 5th 2009 - 12:39 UTC

  Lula da Silva boasts Brazil now advises the IMF

  

  President Lula da Silva said that Brazil is climbing out, and strengthened, from the deep global financial crisis and underlined that “Brazil is now advising the International Monetary Fund, IMF”.

• Wednesday, August 5th 2009 - 07:11 UTC

  Leopard tanks corruption in Chile jails two generals and summons ministers

  

  Two retired Chilean army officers have been charged with accepting bribes for the purchase of Dutch armoured vehicles in 1998. The men are accused of taking a 600.000 US dollars bribe over the sale of 200 Leopard tanks.

• Wednesday, August 5th 2009 - 07:09 UTC

  US forces in Colombian bases controversy overshadows regional military summit

  

  United States General Douglas Fraser, in charge of US Southern Command operations covering South America said that there are good reasons for the deployment of US military units in Colombia bases, but also stressed that no final deal had yet been struck.

• Wednesday, August 5th 2009 - 06:59 UTC

  Chavez condemns attack on television station as “counter revolutionary”

  

  Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez confirmed Tuesday that one of her militants Lina Ron was under arrest for having been involved in the Monday attack on the Globovision television station, an action which he also condemned.

• Tuesday, August 4th 2009 - 10:44 UTC

  Argentina pays bond and seeks to return to global capital markets

  

  Argentina paid creditors a total of 2.25 billion dollars on government-issued debt Monday, as it sought to shed the last vestiges of its 2001 default and return to the financial mainstream. Economy Minister Amado Boudou said the payment, or coupon, had been made to holders of dollar-denominated Boden 2012 bonds -- meeting a debt obligation that aims to boost confidence.

• Tuesday, August 4th 2009 - 10:41 UTC

  Uribe tours South America to explain US bases in Colombia

  

  A plan to increase the number of US troops in Colombia is drawing opposition, not just from left-wing populist leaders in the region but also from moderate governments prompting President Alvaro Uribe to tour the region and try to ease concerns.

• Tuesday, August 4th 2009 - 09:45 UTC

  Opinion polls anticipate Uruguayan presidential election with run-off

  

  The coming Uruguayan presidential election scheduled for October will be decided in a run off at the end of November according to the tendencies of the latest public opinion poll released Monday in Montevideo.

• Tuesday, August 4th 2009 - 09:42 UTC

  Count down for Lula da Silva’s key congressional ally

  

  Brazilian Senate President Jose Sarney, a key ally of President Lula da Silva, may be forced to resign amid allegations he used his position to win government jobs and contracts for relatives. Senators from parties backing President Lula da Silva joined by members from the opposition are increasing pressure on Sarney to step down.

• Tuesday, August 4th 2009 - 09:22 UTC

  Brazil purchases 250 German Leopard tanks to guard its borders

  

  The Brazilian army purchased 250 German leopard 1 A5 tanks which will be displayed mainly along the country’s 16.000 kilometres of land and fluvial borders thus reinforcing its dissuasive capacity in the event of foreign attacks. The program is also part of the National Defence Strategy, NDS, approved last December by President Lula da Silva.