President Pacheco Treated for High Pressure, Relinquishes Presidency Temporarily
President Abel Pacheco was hospitalized on Monday morning with high blood pressure, although his condition was stable by the afternoon, his spokeswoman said.

24 New Political Parties Registered; Bringing Total to 72
The Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones (TSE) reports that five new political parties will be running candidates for the presidency in the 2006 elections.

Probation For Three Women in  Trafficking  Ring
Remember the case in 2003 when police raided homes in La Uruca and Escazú and arrested a number of people in connection with a trafficking ring involving minors?

Dead Man's Missing Car is Owned by Police Commander
The Fiscalía (prosecutor's office) in San Ramon, northwest of San José, is looking into allegations that the second commander of the Fuerza Pública de San Ramón, Marco Hernández Barrantes, registered the purchase of a vehicle after the owner had already died and the car had been reported missing.

Two Wheeled Transportation on the Increase
The high cost of gasoline as a result of the high cost of crude oil on world markets has forced Costa Ricans more ways to get around town.


LATIN AMERICA

Argentina calls on Bolivia to solve crisis through talks
The Argentine government Monday called on Bolivia to find a solution to resolve the current crisis "within its constitutional mechanisms".

Renowned US biologist murdered in Colombia
A renowned US biologist staying for decades in Colombia has been murdered recently in the western city of Cali, a local university where he had worked said Monday.

Five killed, 11 injured in Colombia landslide
Five people were killed and 11 injured in a landslide caused by heavy rain in northwestern Colombia on Monday, authorities said.

Mexico rejects US proposal to "supervise democracy" in L. America
Mexico rejected on Monday a US proposal which calls for the creation of a so-called "democracy supervision mechanism" in Latin America.

Bolivian president resigns amid mass protests
Bolivian President Carlos Mesa said late Monday that he would submit resignation to the congress after mass anti-government protests paralyzed the country's capital of La Paz, according to reports from the city.


SPECIAL REPORTS

BRAZIL:
Trail of Corruption?
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is facing a new crisis over an ill that was not expected to plague his leftist Workers Party (PT) government: corruption.