Peru: mass grave uncovered

In the remote Peruvian village of Huanta, Ayacucho department, forensic workers are exhuming the remains of 49 buried in a mass grave and thought to be victims of an army massacre.

Bolivia: another US diplomat expelled; CIA design on hydrocarbons seen

President Evo Morales expelled a US diplomat, accusing him of “coordinating contacts” in a conspiracy to infiltrate the state oil and gas company on behalf of the CIA.

Chávez pledges to repel Colombian military incursion

President Hugo Chávez called Colombian Defense Minister Juan Santos a “threat to peace in South America” and pledged to hit back hard if Colombia made any military incursion into Venezuela.

Colombia extradites another para commander —over protests from rights groups

Colombian para commander Hebert Veloza Garcia was extradited to the US—over the protests of rights groups who fear details of government collusion with the paras may never be revealed.

Colombia: UN relief chief meets with ethnicities affected by floods, displacement

Meeting with members of indigenous and Afro-Colombian groups impacted by floods and displacement in Colombia, the top UN relief official called for stepped up aid for these communities.

Venezuela: Chávez sends army to seize rice processors

Venezuela’s President Hugo Chávez ordered the army to seize control of all rice processing plants in the country, citing the companies’ failure to adhere to price control regulations.

State Department blasts Venezuela on human rights, drugs

Venezuela and Bolivia condemned US State Department reports on human rights and narcotics that single out the two South American countries, saying Washington has no right to pass judgment.

Venezuela: another attack on Caracas Jewish center

Unidentified assailants threw an improvised explosive at a community center in La Florida district of Caracas in a pre-dawn attack. The attack comes on the heels of the ransacking of a Venezuelan synagogue.

Colombian president restricts wiretapping following scandal

Colombian President Alvaro Uribe restricted the power of the DAS secret police agency to carry out wiretaps in the wake of the surveillance scandal, as his government petitions Washington for more military aid.

Colombia: Uribe disses top prosecutor over drug recrim

Colombian President Álvaro Uribe clashed with the country’s Prosecutor General over the head of state’s proposal to re-criminalize possession of personal quantities of drugs.

Colombia: FARC admits killing indigenous people

In a communiqué, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) took responsibility for the killing of eight people at Río Bravo in the southwestern department of Nariño.

Colombia: surveillance scandal shakes secret police

Revelations that Colombia’s Department of Administrative Security illegally listened in on the phone calls of judges, politicians and journalists, prompted the resignation of the agency’s deputy director.