The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has slashed its growth forecast for the Andean countries in 2009, particularly for exporters of primary products. The IMF further predicted "a serious contraction in Venezuela," according to its latest report, released on Wednesday.
According to the IMF's World Economic Outlook, all the countries of the Andean Group will grow in 2009 less than forecasted in its previous study, six months ago. In some cases, such as that of Venezuela, the economy will contract this year.
Interpol has issued an arrest warrant for Venezuelan opposition leader Manuel Rosales, who faces corruption charges in his country but fled to Peru to seek asylum, police today stated.
Wilmer Flores, with the Venezuelan police, said his country's authorities were trying to have Interpol give Rosales's case a maximum alert status for police worldwide.
A Venezuelan court Wednesday issued a warrant for Rosales who was to have appeared April 20 for a hearing on preventive detention pending a trial on graft charges from his time as governor of Zulia state.
Rosales is in Lima awaiting news on his asylum request. He denies the graft charges and says he is being politically persecuted by President Hugo Chavez.
It was not immediately clear if Rosales could be arrested with an asylum request pending but not granted.
Interior Minister Tarek El Aissami had said earlier that Venezuela would move to seek an international arrest warrant for Rosales.
Rosales vowed Wednesday in Peru to continue fighting what he called the "totalitarian" Chavez regime.
"We're even more determined to continue to fight and face up to this totalitarian regime which flouts and tramples on the Venezuelan Constitution," Rosales said on a private Peruvian television channel.
A Venezuelan court Wednesday issued a warrant for Rosales who was to have appeared April 20 for a hearing on preventive detention pending a trial on graft charges from his time as governor of Zulia state.
Rosales is in Lima awaiting news on his asylum request. He denies the graft charges and says he is being politically persecuted by President Hugo Chavez.
It was not immediately clear if Rosales could be arrested with an asylum request pending but not granted.
Interior Minister Tarek El Aissami had said earlier that Venezuela would move to seek an international arrest warrant for Rosales.
Rosales vowed Wednesday in Peru to continue fighting what he called the "totalitarian" Chavez regime.
"We're even more determined to continue to fight and face up to this totalitarian regime which flouts and tramples on the Venezuelan Constitution," Rosales said on a private Peruvian television channel.
Leave a comment