US South Command chief to kick off Central America tour
US South Command chief Bantz Craddock will be here next week for the first leg of his three-nation Central America tour, the Foreign Ministry of Panama announced Saturday.

During his six-hour stay, Craddock will hold talks with President Martin Torrijos and other Panamanian officials, the ministry said in a statement, adding that the discussions will cover cooperation in the form of the New Horizons program.

Under the program, which was launched in February, the US troops at the Macaracas locality have been working on construction projects such as rebuilding of schools, roads, clinics and other civil infrastructure, according to the statement.

Craddock will then move on to Honduras and el Salvador before wrapping up his three-day visit on Wednesday, when he will return to the southeastern US city of Miami, the seat of the South Command, which is taken as the US institution for military cooperation with Central and South America.

Craddock is also in a position to oversee the US prison camp in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He recently received a report on complaints of abuse by interrogators at the camp, where more than 500 prisoners are being held, many without charge for over three years.