News stories by IPS Correspondents, page 31

LONDON, Dic 23 (IPS) - Coffee futures hit turbulent trading this week after Latin American coffee producers announced that they are to restart withholding exports in order to raise prices.

LONDON, Dic 23 (IPS) - Base metals had a mixed week with copper losing ground although regaining some of its poise before the close of the Christmas break. Aluminium tried to forge ahead and register gains but slipped at the end.

MOSCOW, Dic 23 (IPS) - Russia Friday said its armed forces had sealed the Chechen capital of Grozny while its bombers continued to rain bombs from the skies over the breakaway republic.

NEW DELHI, Dic 23 (IPS) - MERCENARIES FROM PAKISTAN, AFGHANISTAN AZERBAIJAN AND WESTERN UKRAINE ARE STOKING THE CONFLICT IN CHECHNYA, VISITING RUSSIAN PRIME MINISTER VIKTOR CHERNOMYRDIN SAID HERE FRIDAY.

LISBON, Dic 23 (IPS) - AN UPCOMING MEETING BETWEEN THE HEADS OF THE ANGOLAN ARMED FORCES (FAA) AND UNITA IN SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE COULD PAVE THE WAY FOR A SUMMIT BETWEEN ANGOLAN PRESIDENT JOSE EDUARDO DOS SANTOS AND UNITA LEADER JONAS SAVIMBI, IT WAS REPORTED HERE FRIDAY.

ROME, Dic 23 (IPS) - The president of the Council of Italian Ministers, Silvio Berlusconi, forced to resign, defended on Friday the principal measures adopted by his government, and said the promise of one million jobs was not an "empty promise."

CARACAS, Dic 23 (IPS) - The government board in charge of administering Venezuela's exchange rate controls reported Friday that the daily flow of hard currency is returning to levels seen before the implementation of the restrictions six months ago.

MEXICO, Dic 23 (IPS) - The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) praised the Mexican government's decision to introduce a floating exchange rate, and announced that its loans to Mexico would increase some 26 percent in 1995.

CARACAS, Dic 23 (IPS) - The government board in charge of administering Venezuela's exchange rate controls reported Friday that the daily flow of hard currency is returning to levels seen before the implementation of the restrictions six months ago.

MEXICO, Dic 23 (IPS) - The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) praised the Mexican government's decision to introduce a floating exchange rate, and announced that its loans to Mexico would increase some 26 percent in 1995.