Street clashes in Argentine capital leave 30 people
injured
Demonstrators
took to the streets Friday to express their anger at
a possible decree banning peddlers and demonstrators
from streets and the ensuing clashes outside the
congress building left 30 injured, including three
policemen.
The protest
erupted when legislators started to debate on the modification of a
decree that could ban the presence of peddlers, prostitutes and
demonstrators on streets.
The demonstrators, mostly roadside peddlers, hurled rocks and bombs
at the legislative building. Several demonstrators, wearing red
flags, covered their faces with ski-masks during the attacks.
The legislators in the building locked up the doors and tried to
disperse the protesters with high-pressure water cannon.
At around 3:30 p.m. local time, the riot-control forces of the
federal police rushed to the scene to quell the violence.
Their efforts however were frustrated by the agitated protesters,
who used rocks and shards of glass to fight the police.
With President Nestor Kirchner away in Patagonia, the capital city
seems to have temporarily lost control.
Local radio stations constantly broadcast the calls of citizens for
protection from the beginning of the violence, while Mayor Anibal
Ibarra and his deputy, Jorge Telerman, refused to make any comments
on the lack of effective police operations.
Several days before, a group of demonstrators stormed a police
station and destroyed its equipment and documents. The chief of the
station was later fired by Justice Minister Gustavo Beliz.
As tensions still run high, it is hard to predict the possible
outcome.
Mexican police arrest man on FBI's list of most wanted
Mexican police
have arrested and deported a man on the FBI's list of 10 most wanted
criminals, the US embassy said Friday.
Michael Alfonso, 35, was captured in western Mexico late Thursday.
He was wanted for the murders of two former girlfriends in Chicago
in 1992 and 2001.
Alfonso was identified after his photograph was shown on the Fox
network's television program, according to an embassy statement.
The US embassy also described the arrest as an example of tight
cooperation between the US and Mexican law enforcement officials.
Chile to provide
electoral advice to Iraq
The Iraqi authorities accepted on Friday the support for electoral
issues offered by Chile four months ago during a conference of
donors for Iraq, Chilean Vice Foreign Minister Cristian Barros said.
He added that experts of the Chilean Electoral Service will study
ways to support the establishment of a democratic electoral system
in Iraq, after the Arab country accepted the offer of support made
by the government of Chile's President Ricardo Lagos.
Barros said the issue has yet to be discussed "with the experts of
the electoral service, but we'll do it soon."
The diplomat expressed his confidence that his country's
participation will help Iraq carry out general elections in
different areas. "This is a contribution we can make, it is within
our reach and is important," he added.
As a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, Chile did not
support the US-led war on Iraq last year.
El
Salvador to extend peacekeeping mission in Iraq
El Salvador will extend its peacekeeping mission in Iraq for one
year, and a new dispatch of 380 troops will leave for Iraq in August
to replace the servicemen currently in the Gulf country, said
reports reaching here from San Salvador, capital of El Salvador.
The congress of the central American country approved with a vote of
45 in favor and 39 abstentions on Thursday night the decision to
extend its peacekeeping efforts until the end of August 2005.
Disputes arose during the congressional debate, in which the ruling
party's initiative to send a new contingent to Iraq met resistance
from the major opposition party Farabundo Marti of National
Liberation (FMLN), which argued that foreign military presence in
Iraq is an act of occupation.
The opposition however abstained, thus paving the way for the
dispatch of the new contingent that will stay for half a year in the
violence-plagued Arab country.
The third Salvadoran contingent will replace in August another one
made up by 379 members from Cuscatlan Battalion that has been in the
Iraqi city of Najaf for a year, said Salvadoran Defense Minister
Otto Romero.
The new dispatch consists of marines, engineers, doctors and bomb
experts, said Romero.
As the extension is a year, the contingent might be replaced by
another after its term expires in six months.
After Spain, Honduras, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic pulled
their troops out of Iraq, El Salvador has become the only member of
the five-nation Plus Ultra Brigade to remain in the country.
Peruvian justice minister resigns in protest of new law
Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo confirmed on Friday that Justice
Minister Baldo Kresalja had resigned due to disagreement over the
recently passed radio and television law.
"The justice minister has resigned because he does not agree to the
contents of the law approved by the congress," Toledo said, terming
the resignation a "very important loss" to the country.
During a visit to the Peruvian altiplano hit hard by low
temperatures and snow storms, Toledo said he respected Kresalja's
decision.
Acknowledging the law was not perfect, the president said he had to
endorse it after it was passed by the congress by a vast majority.
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