Alvaro Colom

CENTRAL AMERICA New initiative against corruptionThe countries of Central America's so called northern triangle - El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala - are studying setting up an international commission against impunity, a body capable of taking on organized crime in the

ARGENTINAMushrooming corruption allegations Allegations of corruption against public officials have mushroomed against a backdrop of the diminishing popularity of the government. Prosecutions brought during the administration of Néstor Kirchner (2003 2007), President Cristina Fernández's husband and predecessor, have picked up

ARGENTINA President defends her assets President Cristina Fernández rejected accusations of illicit enrichment after the publication of her and her husband's assets revealed an increase of almost 160 percent in the last year. In their asset statement Fernández and

COLOMBIA Everybody under surveillance The revelation that the Departamento Administrativo de Seguridad (DAS) - Colombia's domestic secret police service, which answers directly to president Álvaro Uribe - has illegally hadjournalists and opposition leaders in Colombia under surveillance has created a

BRAZIL: Investigating Swiss Banks; CHILE: First Money Launderer in Prison; COLOMBIA: Parapolitics in Action; GUATEMALA:New President; MEXICO: Arellano Félix Sentenced to Life; Friction over Merida Initiative; The Mexican Connection in the Wachovia and Harris banks Case; PERU: 30 Years for Fujimori?; REGIONAL: ‘Specially Designated' Latin Americans; and VENEZUELA: Seedy Diamonds.

ARGENTINA Good banks, bad banksElisa Carrió - leader of the Alternative for a Republic of Equals (ARI) party - warned the government in a letter that Merrill Lynch & Co. and Barclays Plc, two of the three banks picked by