South America

Victims of Peru’s Fujimori rail against ex-president’s pardon

by Francisco Jara Agence France-PresseLIMA, Peru – Families of victims of former Peruvian president Alberto Fujimori prepared Wednesday to intensify protests against a pardon given to the ex-leader, who was serving 25 years for murder and other human rights abuses. They planned a fresh march on Thursday denouncing both the pardon and current President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, who decreed Fujimori’s release on Sunday, three days after narrowly surviving impeachment on graft allegations thanks to Fujimori’s son Kenji. “This […]

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‘Forgive me,’ ex-Peru leader Fujimori says after pardon protests

by Carlos Mandujano and Francisco Jara Agence France Presse LIMA, Peru (AFP) — Peru’s ailing former leader Alberto Fujimori on Tuesday asked the public for forgiveness, two days after receiving a presidential pardon that sparked street protests. “I am aware that the results of my government were well received on one side, but I admit that I have let down other compatriots, and I ask them to forgive me with all my heart,” Fujimori said […]

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Thousands protest pardon of Peru’s ailing ex-president Fujimori

by Luis Jaime Cisneros Agence France Presse LIMA, Peru (AFP) — Thousands of Peruvians marched in Lima on Monday to protest the pardon of ailing ex-president Alberto Fujimori, who was serving a 25-year sentence for human rights abuses. Current President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski ordered the pardon of Fujimori and seven other prisoners on Sunday on humanitarian grounds, once again placing himself in the middle of a political crisis just days after he avoided impeachment. On […]

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Peru’s pardoned ex-president Fujimori still in hospital

by Luis Jaime Cisneros Agence France Presse LIMA, Peru (AFP) — Peru’s former president Alberto Fujimori remained in intensive care in a Lima hospital on Monday, a day after he was granted a pardon for his 25-year sentence for crimes against humanity. Current President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski ordered the pardon on Sunday on humanitarian grounds for Fujimori and seven other prisoners. He said the decision relied on a medical evaluation that Fujimori suffered a progressive […]

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Peru’s ailing ex-president Fujimori pardoned

  LIMA, Peru (AFP) — Peru’s jailed ex-president Alberto Fujimori, who was serving a 25-year sentence for corruption and rights abuses, has been pardoned on humanitarian grounds, the presidency announced on Sunday. “The president of the republic… has decided to grant a humanitarian pardon to Mr Alberto Fujimori and seven other people in similar condition,” it said in a statement. Fujimori was transferred from his cell to a clinic Saturday suffering from low blood pressure […]

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Mexico bus crash kills 11 tourists including foreigners

MEXICO CITY, Mexico (AFP) — A bus carrying tourists from a US cruise ship to an archaeological site on Mexico’s Caribbean coast crashed Tuesday after running off the road, killing at least 11 people including several foreigners, the state government said. The crash, which left another 20 injured, happened on a highway in the state of Quintana Roo, located on the eastern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula and well known as home to the resort city of […]

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11 dead, 15 missing in Chile mudslide

SANTIAGO, Chile (AFP) — A mudslide that buried much of a village in southern Chile has killed 11 people while another 15 are still missing, authorities said Sunday. The tragedy struck a picturesque village of Villa Santa Lucia in the southern Los Lagos (Lakes) region where heavy rain triggered mudslides that swallowed up most of the homes in the village of 300. Ten families have been evacuated, Onemi added. The town was unable to vote […]

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Billionaire Pinera to return as Chile’s president: results

by Paulina ABRAMOVICH Agence France Presse SANTIAGO, Chile (AFP) — Billionaire Sebastian Pinera will return to power as Chile’s president next year, according to near-complete results from a runoff election held Sunday. Electoral authorities said the 68-year-old conservative, who previously led the South American nation from 2010-2014, had 55 percent of the vote with 98 percent of ballots counted. His leftist rival Alejandro Guillier, a 64-year-old TV presenter turned senator who ran as an independent […]

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Peru Congress to debate impeachment of president

by Carlos Mandujano / Moises Avila © Agence France-Presse LIMA, Peru (AFP) — Peru’s Congress voted overwhelmingly on Friday to consider impeaching President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski next week over allegations he received bribes from Brazilian contractor Odebrecht. Ninety-three of the 118 legislators present supported the proposal to debate impeachment on December 21. “This decision will be communicated to the president to exercise his right to defense (during the next session) and assist with a lawyer if required,” […]

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Venezuela government, opposition hold new round of talks

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic  (AFP) — Venezuela’s government and opposition concluded a new round of talks Friday in an effort to bridge deep and entrenched differences to find a way to end the dire political and economic crisis tearing apart their country. After eight hours of discussions at the foreign ministry in Santo Domingo, the two sides agreed to resume negotiations on January 11, Dominican President Danilo Medina announced. It will be followed by a meeting of […]

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Chile votes in what could be a close presidential run-off

SANTIAGO, Chile (AFP) — Chilean voters will decide their next president on Sunday in a run-off election whose outcome is far from certain after an unexpectedly strong surge for the left. Sebastian Pinera, a conservative billionaire former president who ruled from 2010-2014, is trying for a comeback to succeed center-left incumbent leader Michelle Bachelet, who is constitutionally excluded from standing again. But his plan could be upset by Alejandro Guillier, a senator and veteran TV presenter who […]

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Peru president rejects demands he resign over corruption allegations

LIMA, Peru (AFP) — Peru’s President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski late Thursday rejected demands he resign, brushing aside an opposition ultimatum to step down or face impeachment over allegations he received bribes from Brazilian contractor Odebrecht. “I am not going to abdicate my honor, my values or my responsibilities as president,” Kuczynski said in a televised speech to the nation, backed by his ministers. “I won’t run, I won’t hide nor do I have any reason […]

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