News stories by IPS Correspondents, page 61

RIO DE JANEIRO, Nov 22 (IPS) - Called out to stamp on drug trafficking and violence in Brazil's second largest city, the armed forces have not yet rooted out any of the area's important drug bosses.

LONDON, Nov 22 (IPS) - A stepped up programme of privatisation is anticipated when Brazillian President-elect Fernando Cardoso takes office on Jan. 1 next year.

BAGHDAD, Nov 22 (IPS) - Curiosity knows no bounds when it comes to tourism especially for the adventurous who will travel to places where others would fear to tread.

BAGHDAD, Nov 22 (IPS) - Curiosity knows no bounds when it comes to tourism especially for the adventurous who will travel to places where others would fear to tread.

CAIRO, Nov 22 (IPS) - Republican Party control over the U.S. Congress is threatening the chances of achieving a lasting peace in the Middle East because of reluctance to provide former Arab enemies of Israel with economic aid, analysts said here Tuesday.

UNITED NATIONS, Nov 22 (IPS) - United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali proposed Monday that the advance team of the United Nations Mission in Haiti (UNMIH) be increased to 500 before U.S. troops are withdrawn from the island nation.

QUITO, Nov 22 (IPS) - The Ministers of Trade and Integration from Andean Pact member nations will meet on Nov. 25 and 26 in Quito to discuss a common foreign tariff and a possibile trade agreement with the Southern Cone Common Market (Mercosur).

RIO DE JANEIRO, Nov 22 (IPS) - Brazil's leading stock exchangesRio de Janeiro and Sao Paulofell Monday and Tuesday as investors became hesitant in the face of six small bank closings in 10 days.

MONTEVIDEO, Nov 22 (IPS) - The presidential candidates of Uruguay's three main parties are stalking the votes of the "undecideds" with only five days to what promise to be the closest elections in the history of one of South America's most politicised countries.

TEGUCIGALPA, Nov 22 (IPS) - Denmark has agreed to forgive five million dollars of Honduras' foreign debt, with part of the funds to go to indemnity payments for the families of two individuals who were disappeared and murdered by the military in the 1980s, it was announced on Tuesday.