L.A. Times - Latin America

Drug cartel boss pleads guilty to murder in U.S. agent's death

By Richard A. Serrano, Los Angeles Times — Thu, 23 May 2013 17:00:00 PDT

He joins three other defendants who had pleaded guilty to various charges related to the 2011 shooting in Mexico, which left a second agent injured.

WASHINGTON — A Mexican drug cartel commander pleaded guilty Thursday to murder and attempted murder in a 2011 ambush south of the border that left one American agent dead and a second injured, and which sharply strained U.S.-Mexico relations.

Last of four brothers in Arellano Felix drug cartel pleads guilty

By Richard Marosi, Los Angeles Times — Fri, 24 May 2013 20:07:00 PDT

Eduardo Arellano Felix, 56, a medical doctor who avoided the swaggering, hard-partying ways of his brothers, pleads guilty to money laundering and conspiracy charges.

SAN DIEGO — Eduardo Arellano Felix, the last of four brothers targeted by U.S. authorities for running the notorious Arellano Felix drug cartel, pleaded guilty Friday to money laundering and conspiracy charges.

A FARC rebel in Colombia explains why he wanted out

By Chris Kraul, Los Angeles Times — Tue, 21 May 2013 20:01:00 PDT

He knew a year ago that the rebel group was a lost cause, but he bided his time. Now he watches his back.

BOGOTA, Colombia — Leftist rebel Reinel Usuga surrendered this month because he was afraid of dying in battle and being buried in an unmarked grave even as rebel leaders negotiate a possible peace agreement that would make such a death pointless — perhaps even absurd.

Guatemala full of questions after genocide conviction annulled

By Richard Fausset, Los Angeles Times — Tue, 21 May 2013 18:15:00 PDT

It's unclear what kind of retrial former dictator Efrain Rios Montt will face, or whether the nation's power brokers played any role in the high court ruling.

MEXICO CITY — The Guatemalan high court's decision to annul the genocide conviction of former military dictator Efrain Rios Montt on Tuesday revived questions about his responsibility for the slaughter of some 1,700 ethnic Maya people.

In Mexico, immigrants' relatives watch U.S. debate, and hope

By Richard Fausset, Los Angeles Times — Fri, 17 May 2013 17:59:00 PDT

Many are skeptical that Congress will pass immigration reform legislation, but if it happens, they say, it will mean the reunion of countless family members, some separated for 20 years.

TONATICO, Mexico — Armando Guadarrama was navigating his taxi through the narrow streets of this central Mexico pueblo on a recent Saturday morning, some 2,000 miles from the Beltway.

Jorge Rafael Videla dies at 87; Argentine dictator

By Andres D'Alessandro and Chris Kraul, Special to the Los Angeles Times — Fri, 17 May 2013 11:46:00 PDT

Jorge Rafael Videla led a rebellion that overthrew Isabel Peron in 1976 and then oversaw a seven-year reign of terror known as the dirty war.

BUENOS AIRES — Former Argentine dictator Jorge Rafael Videla, who presided over that country's so-called dirty war in which up to 30,000 dissidents were murdered or disappeared, died Friday while serving a 50-year prison sentence. He was 87.

Mexico names public security chief for Michoacan state

By Richard Fausset and Cecilia Sanchez, Los Angeles Times — Thu, 16 May 2013 18:05:00 PDT

Alberto Reyes Vaca, an army general, will oversee state and federal security forces. His appointment reflects federal concern about drug violence in the state.

MEXICO CITY — Responding to mounting concern about disorder in the Mexican state of Michoacan, officials announced Thursday that an army general would take over as its public security chief, overseeing both state and federal security forces.

Venezuela's last major opposition TV station is sold

By Chris Kraul and Mery Mogollon, Los Angeles Times — Tue, 14 May 2013 18:04:00 PDT

New owners of Venezuela's Globovision are said to have ties to President Nicolas Maduro's government. Some fear that critical voices will lose an outlet.

CARACAS, Venezuela — The sale of Globovision, Venezuela's last major television station critical of the government, raised concern Tuesday that no mass media platform may remain on which to challenge the Chavista administration of President Nicolas Maduro.

Mexico prepares for more intense eruptions from Popo volcano

By Richard Fausset and Cecilia Sanchez, Los Angeles Times — Tue, 14 May 2013 00:00:00 PDT

Mexico's giant Popocatepetl volcano may generate lava flows, bigger explosions and ash; officials prepare evacuation routes and shelters for thousands of people.

MEXICO CITY— Mexico's giant Popocatepetl volcano may generate lava flows, explosions of "growing intensity" and ash that could reach miles away, the National Center for Disaster Prevention said Monday.

Former Guatemalan dictator Efrain Rios Montt guilty of genocide

By Richard Fausset, Los Angeles Times — Fri, 10 May 2013 20:03:00 PDT

A panel of judges sentences him to 80 years for the systematic massacre of more than 1,700 Maya during the country's civil war.

MEXICO CITY — Efrain Rios Montt, the former Guatemalan military dictator who ruled his country during one of the bloodiest phases of its civil war, was found guilty of genocide and crimes against humanity Friday for the systematic massacre of more than 1,700 Maya people. He was sentenced to 80 years in prison.