30 OAS Ministers Sign Deal to Fight Terror *** BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (AP) - Countries from the United States to Chile pledged to fight terrorism together, agreeing to a new treaty designed to increase security across the Western Hemisphere in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks. The foreign ministers from 30 of the 34 nations in the Organization of American States signed the Inter-American Convention Against Terrorism on Monday at the annual general assembly of the OAS. "More than ever before, the Americas stand together today against terrorism and for democracy," Secretary of State Colin Powell said at the meeting in Barbados. "There can be no doubt of our resolve."
The treaty is meant to prevent financing of terrorism, toughen border controls and strengthen cooperation among law enforcement agencies. It requires each country to create a financial intelligence unit and institute strict measures to detect cross-border movements of cash that could be used to fund terrorism. Signatories agreed to transfer detainees whose testimony is needed in anti-terrorism investigations and to deny asylum or refugee status to terrorism suspects. "Today, our states, individually and collectively, face new goals and new threats," said Panama's Foreign Minister Jose Miguel Aleman.
The four OAS nations that did not sign - Canada, Dominica, the Dominican Republic and Trinidad and Tobago - need additional time to follow required procedures, OAS officials said. Foreign ministers and secretaries of state also discussed a possible OAS role in easing political tensions in Venezuela, where President Hugo Chavez was briefly ousted by a military rebellion in April, and in Haiti, where an impasse over new elections is holding up hundreds of millions of dollars in aid.***
Ruling party legislators accuse Venezuelan journalist of treason *** CARACAS, Venezuela - Ruling party lawmakers said Wednesday they will ask prosecutors to formally charge a Venezuelan journalist with treason for releasing a video in which masked men claiming to be military officers criticize President Hugo Chavez. Three members of Chavez's Fifth Republic Movement party on Wednesday accused journalist Patricia Poleo of conspiring to overthrow President Hugo Chavez, who survived a coup attempt last month. "We are going to file a formal accusation against Patricia Poleo for crimes of treason, for rebellion," lawmaker Cilia Flores told reporters. "These conspirators, including Patricia Poleo, among others, are still determined to depose President Chavez."***