An Average of 5 Fugitives Caught in Costa Rica Each Month
Costa Rica known for it's natural beauty and "pura vida" lifestyle not only attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists each year, but also those wanted in their own country, hiding out in this tropical paradise, evading the legal process that awaits them.

Transparency Top Concern of Defensoría
Corruption in Costa Rica in the last year hit an all time high when a number of public officials, including two former presidents, where accused of putting their hands in the public coffers.

May 16 A Day of Protest For the High Cost of Gasoline
The protest planned by union leaders for May 16 will change it's tone. The original proposal called for a protest against the Tratado Libre de Comercio (TLC) - free trade agreement with the United States- however, organizers now say that the protest will be against the high cost of gasoline.

Municipal Police Officer Extorted Bribes from Local Businesses
A police officer with the Policia Municipal (Municipal Police) was detained by agents of the Fiscalía de Delitos Varios following a complaint by a hotel manager that the officer was charging him ¢40.000 colones (us$85) a week so that he would have no problems with is operating license.

Man Burns Down Five Houses Because They Wouldn't Give Him "Guaro"
A 45 year old man, identified only by his last name, Arrieta Gutiérrez, was detained by police suspected of setting a fire that burned down five hours, leaving 35 people on the street, in Barrio Pinto, Montes de Oca, in San Pedro.

Cars Older than Seven Years Will NOT Be Allowed To Be Imported
A plan by the Ministerio de Hacienda (Revenue Ministry) to eliminate the importation of vehicles older than five or seven years was confirmed yesterday by Hacienda Minister, Federico Carrillo. The measure would come into effect June 5 - Environment Day in Costa Rica.


LATIN AMERICA

Castro blasts US for harboring Cuban terrorist
Cuban President Fidel Castro has accused the United States of harboring a Cuban exile on terrorism charges and vowed to continue the battle for extradition, the local press reported on Thursday.

Ecuadorian vice president sworn in
Alejandro Serrano was sworn in as new vice president of Ecuador, one day after he was selected by Congress.

Brazil to host historic South American-Arab Summit
Brazil will host an unprecedented Summit of South American and Arab countries next week, a move seen as one of the most audacious foreign policy initiatives taken by the government of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

53 judges sacked in Venezuela
The Supreme Court of Venezuela sacked 53 judges in five of the country's 23 states, the El Universal daily reported on Thursday.

Peruvian ex President Advises Cool-head for Crisis with Chile
Peruvian ex President Alan Garcia called to adopt wise decisions in dealing with the present crisis with Chile, baring in mind Peruvian emigration to the neighboring country and the Chilean investments here.



SPECIAL REPORTS

ENVIRONMENT:
Priest Proposes 'March for Life' Across Mesoamerica
Two years ago, logging groups allegedly offered to pay an assassin 40,000 dollars for the head of Salvadoran Catholic priest Andrés Tamayo, leader of an environmental campaign in the northeastern Honduran department of Olancho.