Strong volcanic eruption affects southern Chile May 6, 2008, 16:30 GMT Santiago - The Chaiten volcano in southern Chile was spewing lava and large quantities of ash Tuesday as the last 100 residents remaining in the nearby town of Chaiten were evacuated by sea, the daily El Tiempo reported citing authorities. ....more

Cuba wants to prepare citizens for modern life, government May 17, 2008, 1:31 GMT Havana - The Cuban government says it intends to prepare its citizens for life in a modern state, according to a report Friday in the young people's newspaper of the Communist Party. ....more

Commando frees six alleged assassins from Mexican jail May 16, 2008, 21:06 GMT Mexico City - A team of commandos dressed in police uniforms Friday freed six inmates, allegedly assassins in the service of the Gulf Cartel, from a jail in eastern Mexico, said authorities in the state of Veracruz. ....more

US disturbed by report that Venezuela armed Colombian rebels May 15, 2008, 21:37 GMT Washington - Reports that Venezuela provided weapons and other support to FARC rebels in Colombia are 'disturbing' and pose grave consequences for the region, the US State Department said Thursday. ....more

Interpol rules that FARC computers have not been modified May 15, 2008, 18:28 GMT Bogota - Information found in Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) computers belonging to the late Colombian rebel leader Raul Reyes has not been manipulated or modified by external actors, Interpol said Thursday in Bogota. ....more

Report: Drug lord escapes police in Mexico May 14, 2008, 16:38 GMT Mexico City - Drug trafficker Arturo Beltran Leyva, who is one of the bosses of the Sinaloa Cartel, escaped from a police raid last week in central Mexico in which two police officers were killed and nine of Beltran Leyva's men were arrested, the daily El Universal reported Wednesday. ....more

Venezuela agrees to exchange oil for food with Portugal May 13, 2008, 21:24 GMT Caracas - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez met with Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates Tuesday in Caracas, where they signed several cooperation agreements including one to exchange Venezuelan oil for Portuguese goods including food, services and technology. ....more

Chavez, Merkel shake hands, appear to make up May 16, 2008, 19:40 GMT Lima - Politics often mixes and matches the most varied and even antagonistic elements. ....more

In photos: 'Ash from Chaiten Volcano Blankets Parts of Argentina' May 12, 2008, 20:12 GMT We have added a new set of images from the event "Ash from Chaiten Volcano Blankets Parts of Argentina." ....more

In photos: 'Chile Volcano' May 5, 2008, 20:38 GMT We have added a new set of images from the event "Chile Volcano." ....more

Raul Castro tightens grip on Cuban government Apr 30, 2008, 12:13 GMT Havana - New Cuban President Raul Castro has publicly proclaimed the end of the 21-month 'temporary' phase opened by the illness of his brother, long-time Cuban leader Fidel Castro. ....more