Newsweek in review: July 3 to July 9

Monday July 3:

-Mexican electoral officials cannot declare an official winner of the previous day’s presidential elections.

Tuesday July 4:

-Venezuela officially becomes member of the Mercosur trading bloc.

-Supporters of Mexican presidential candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador demand a hand recount instead of a ballot-by-ballot recount.

Wednesday July 5:

-Peruvian president-elect Alan Garcia said that the Andean Community will continue to be a strong trading bloc in spite of Venezuela’s defection to Mercosur.

-A multi-million dollar power project was inaugurated as part of the start to a Central American summit.

-A human rights report on Cuba showed an increase in the harassment of dissidents since 2005.

-Simple recount of votes for Mexico’s president begins.

Thursday July 6:

-Mexico’s electoral board officially declared Felipe Calderon as president-elect by 0.57% though closest rival Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador planned to challenge the results.

Friday July 7:

-Ex- Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet questioned by prosecuters in the case of the daughter of a union leader killed during his time in power.

-U.S. Department of State softens its travel warning for Haiti.

-Colombia agreed to the text a free trade deal with the U.S.

Saturday July 8:

-Over 100,000 people protest in Mexico City in favor of Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

-A Cuban migrant dies during a high-speed chase with a U.S. Coast Guard vessel.

-Ex-president of Mexico Luis Echeverria cleared of genocide charges.

Sunday July 9:

-Argentine referee oversees World Cup final match between Italy and France.

latin america, week in review