Hundreds of students lobbed homemade bombs at the Nicaraguan Congress to protest government plans to cut university funding, as pro-and anti-government demonstrators prepared to square off at the weekend in Managua.

The United Arab Emirates is interested in participating in a project to build a canal across Nicaragua linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, the Gulf state's foreign minister said Tuesday.

The leftist Latin American ALBA trade bloc is scheduled Friday to approve measures that would replace US dollars with a new virtual currency for regional commerce, an official said here.

Leftist LatAm bloc urges world to reject election being held by Honduras' coup government. Leaders of a bloc of leftist Latin American governments urged the international community Saturday to reject the presidential election planned by Honduras' interim government next month.

The constitutional panel of Nicaragua's Supreme Court struck down a constitutional ban on President Daniel Ortega seeking reelection to a second consecutive term.

Nicaragua court says President Ortega can seek re-election; opposition in uproar. Leftist President Daniel Ortega appears to have won the right to seek re-election in 2011, though opponents call the decision illegal and are vowing to fight it.

TEGUCIGALPA (Reuters) - Honduras' de facto leaders blasted loud music outside the embassy where Manuel Zelaya is sheltering on Wednesday and refused to buckle under increased pressure from Washington for the ousted president's return.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States on Thursday expressed concern about a Nicaraguan court ruling that opens the way for leftist President Daniel Ortega to seek re-election in the 2011 election.

The United States is "very concerned" by a Nicaraguan court's decision not to stop that country's leftist president, Daniel Ortega, from seeking re-election, the State Department said.

Former guerrilla Jose Mujica is close to being the outright winner of Sunday's presidential election, having garnered around 50 percent of the vote, according to exit polls taken by television stations.

Uruguayans voted Sunday in a presidential election that could bring to power an ex-guerrilla leader who was shot nine times and twice escaped from jail during the military dictatorship.

Former guerrilla Jose Mujica came out on top in Uruguay's presidential vote, but fell short of the 50 percent needed to avoid a November runoff against ex-president Luis Lacalle, media exit polls said.

Uruguay's presidential elections on Monday headed for a runoff after former guerrilla leader Jose Mujica fell short of the 50 percent needed for an outright victory over ex-president Luis Lacalle, media exit polls showed.

Uruguay's presidential elections on Monday headed for a runoff after former guerrilla leader Jose Mujica fell short of the 50 percent needed for an outright victory over ex-president Luis Lacalle, media exit polls showed.

Uruguay's presidential elections on Monday headed for a runoff after former guerrilla leader Jose Mujica fell short of the 50 percent needed for an outright victory over ex-president Luis Lacalle, media exit polls showed.

Uruguay's presidential elections on Monday headed for a runoff after former guerrilla leader Jose Mujica fell short of the 50 percent needed for an outright victory over ex-president Luis Lacalle, media exit polls showed.

US envoy says no apology for criticizing Nicaragua court ruling allowing Ortega to run again. The U.S. ambassador to Nicaragua said Saturday that he sees no need to apologize for criticizing a court ruling opening the way for the possible re-election of leftist President Daniel Ortega.

The US ambassador to Nicaragua said on Sunday he plans to stay put in the Central American nation despite violent protests demanding that he go home for allegedly meddling in domestic politics.

In Latin America, voters granting leaders more time in office to effect real change. Horrified by the excesses of dictatorship, Latin Americans discarded the strongman model at the end of the 20th century and limited politicians' time in power.

A late season hurricane ravaged parts of Central America Sunday as floods and landslides killed at least 50 in El Salvador and thousands were left homeless in Nicaragua.