Bush Steps into Wary Latin America
Despite opposition of regional social sectors, US President George W. Bush is beginning a tour of five Latin American countries on Thursday, aimed at gaining political leverage in the region.

Bush, who will make a six-day tour of Brazil, Uruguay, Colombia, Guatemala, and Mexico, said in the last few hours Washington is committed to helping people overcome poverty.

However, Democrats say "what the president will offer is very little, and the trip is too late," in allusion to pledged governmental aid.

Peter DeShazo, former under secretary of State for inter-American affairs, stated the trip aims to neutralize the perception that the US has paid very little attention to such an important geographic area.

The real objective of Bush s Latin American tour is to weaken regional integration, US press quoted Brazilian analyst Luis Alberto Moniz Bandeira.

Though the White House has intended to highlight the trip s commercial approach, there is a clear interest in recovering the US leadership in Latin America, and in neutralizing Venezuela President Hugo Chavez influence in the region, he pointed out.

As a sign of generalized rejection of US-encouraged free trade policies in the region, large social sectors in different Latin American nations are protesting Bush visit.

In Uruguay, the National Workers Convention (PIT-CNT) and other organizations are giving the final touches to protest actions against the US president s visit to that country on Friday.

PIT-CNT leader Juan Castillo commented there will be so many acts and marches in Montevideo and other regions that sometimes occur simultaneously.