Coming to America

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Colombia extradited 14 paramilitary warlords to the United States to stand trial on drug trafficking charges in a surprise move applauded by the Bush administration.

The Price of 'Dignity'

Bolivian President Evo-Morales has met regional governors to try to resolve deep differences over his plans for constitutional reform. President Morales struck a conciliatory note as he opened the meeting with the nine regional governors.

"When there are no sectarian-ambitions, it's possible to understand each other for the good of the country," he said.

"We all want peace and unity but in a dialogue there are some things that you cannot negotiate, which are principles and laws," Reuters quoted Ruben Costas, the governor of Santa-Cruz province as saying.

Revenues
Mr Morales, Bolivia's first indigenous president, made rewriting the constitution a key part of his reform agenda to give the indigenous majority greater political power. One of the biggest disputes is over the distribution of revenue from natural gas exports between the regions and the central government.

The lowland regions of Santa Cruz, Beni, Pando and Tarija include the country's vital natural gas reserves and are home to important agribusinesses.

Among the proposals are, two consecutive 5-year terms for presidents, greater state control of the economy and more autonomy for indigenous communities.

Via Money-Soft

Drug-Baron: Hugo Chavez

A top US anti-drugs official has accused Venezuelan President Hugo-Chavez of being a "major facilitator" of the trade in cocaine.


The official, John Walters, said Venezuela had become "a haven" for shipments of cocaine manufactured in neighbouring Colombia.

Mr Walters, speaking on a visit to Colombia, said failure to deal with the problem amounted to complicity. Mr Walters, director of the US Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), was meeting Colombian President Alvaro-Uribe.

Via BBC