barriomulas.com - Latin American Briefs

May 22 (Bloomberg) -- President George W. Bush said he's concerned about an ``erosion of democracy'' in Venezuela, one of the four largest suppliers of oil to the U.S., and Bolivia.
``Let me just put it bluntly - I'm concerned about the erosion of democracy in the countries you mentioned,'' Bush said today in response to a question about Venezuela and Bolivia while addressing the National Restaurant Association in Chicago. ``I am going to continue to remind our hemisphere that respect for property rights and human rights is essential for all countries in order for there to be prosperity and peace.'' Bloomberg

I will continue to remind people that trade is the best way to help people be lifted from poverty; that we can spend money -- and we do in the neighborhood -- but the best way for there to be growth is to encourage commerce and trade and prosperity through the marketplace. George Bush Jr., PrNewsWire

Honduras President Manuel Zelaya expressed gratitude for the initiative of his Venezuelan counterpart Hugo Chávez to offer Honduras fuel at preferential prices to face a potential energy crisis, despite criticism by his foes who consider that the initiative could cause political troubles to the country, news agency AP reported. El Universal

LIMA, Peru, May 22 (Reuters) - Retired army commander Ollanta Humala, who trails ex-President Alan Garcia in voter opinion surveys, won a weekend presidential debate but the victory was unlikely to dramatically improve his poll numbers, analysts said.
Fifty-three percent of Peruvians who watched the debate said Humala won and 47 percent said Garcia was the victor in the Sunday night debate, according to an Internet survey of 4,400 people by leading newspaper El Comercio.

Polls by nationwide radio stations RPP and CPN showed similar results, as Humala's energetic, confrontational style outshone Garcia, analysts said.Reuters