South America

WASHINGTON (AP) — Two top national security aides who listened to President Donald Trump’s call with Ukraine are scheduled to testify in the impeachment hearings, launching back-to-back sessions as Americans hear from those closest to the White House.

An Army officer at the National Security Council, Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, and his counterpart at Vice President Mike Pence’s office, Jennifer Williams, both had concerns as Trump spoke on July 25 with the newly elected Ukraine president about political investigations into Joe Biden.

LA PAZ, Nov 18 (NNN-Prensa Latina) — The United Nations envoy for Bolivia, Jean Arnault, began a series of meetings here with the aim of promoting the pacification of the country, curbing violence and preserving life.

After meeting with the self-proclaimed president, Jeanine Áñez, Arnault insisted on the urgent need to contribute in the best possible way to the objective of holding free, transparent and inclusive elections.

LA PAZ, Nov 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Bolivians suffered long lines on the streets of La Paz to secure chicken, eggs and cooking fuel as supporters of ousted President Evo Morales continued to cripple the country’s highways, isolating population centres from lowland farms.

Officials said a massive Hercules military plane had touched down in the highland capital of La Paz Saturday with a cargo full of meat products, bypassing the barricaded highways that drop down out of the city.

CARACAS, November 18. /TASS/: All the Venezuelan diplomats who were working in Bolivia have returned back, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro told reporters on Sunday.

"Today, after persecution and threats in Bolivia the diplomatic personnel returned to Venezuela," Maduro said in a speech broadcast by the national TV. The leader also stressed that "nazi-fascist forces" took power in Bolivia.

18 November 2019; AFP: President Sebastian Pinera condemned on Sunday for the first time what he called abuses committed by police in dealing with four weeks of violent unrest that have rocked Chile.

"There was excessive use of force. Abuses and crimes were committed, and the rights of all were not respected," the president said in a speech to the nation as it marked a month of turmoil that has left 22 people dead and more than 2,000 injured.

Recife (Brazil), Nov 18 (AFP) Brazil's left-wing leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva urged his followers to continue "the fight" Sunday evening at his first major rally since his release from prison a week ago.

"The fight isn't over," the former president chanted to several tens of thousands of cheering supporters in the northeastern city of Recife.

LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) — Shadowed by street violence and food shortages, a U.N. envoy is urging the government of Bolivia’s self-proclaimed interim president and supporters of self-exiled leader Evo Morales to begin talks on peacefully resolving a crisis that has already claimed 23 lives, an official said Sunday.

BUENOS AIRES, November 17. /TASS/: At least 23 people have been killed, 715 more were injured in clashes since the beginning of the political crisis in Bolivia, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights informed on Saturday.

"Since yesterday (Friday - TASS), 9 people have been killed and 122 have been injured in the wake of clashes with police and armed forces. In total, 23 people have been killed since the beginning of the political crisis, 715 have been injured," the commission informed on Twitter.

SACABA, Bolivia (AP) — A U.N. envoy met with Bolivia’s interim president Saturday to find a way out of the country’s political crisis while the world body expressed concern the situation could “spin out of control” amid a rising death toll.

On leaving the meeting with interim leader Jeanine Áñez, envoy Jean Arnault said the United Nations hopes it can contribute to an “accelerated pacification process” leading to new elections following the resignation and exile of Evo Morales.

16 November 2019; AFP: Bolivia's interim leader Jeanine Anez said Friday that exiled ex-president Evo Morales would have to "answer to justice" if he returns, as five of his supporters were killed in fierce clashes with security forces.

Morales resigned and fled to Mexico after losing the support of Bolivia's security forces following weeks of protests over his disputed re-election that has seen 15 people killed and more than 400 wounded.