Afternoon briefs

*U.S. Senator Bob Melendez blamed President Bush for creating “a void” in U.S. relations with Latin America that has been exploited by Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez.

*The situation surrounding teachers strike in Oaxaca, Mexico has significantly worsened by torching of buses (image, via BBC) and increase in violence.

*Ecuador reaps profits from seized oil fields.

*Guyanese political parties head down the homestretch as elections are less than a week away, while Bloggings by Boz crunches the latest poll numbers in Nicaragua.

Latin America, politics