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WORLD NEWS Wednesday 28 February 2018

Venezuela's Maduro to opponent: Let's take it to the street

By FABIOLA SANCHEZ fair and transparent.
SCOTT SMITH Opposition lawmaker Si-
Associated Press mon Calzadilla said that
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) the coalition's demand for
— A prominent Venezu- more electoral guarantees
elan politician appeared remain firm, despite Fal-
to be breaking ranks with con's decision. Calzadilla
the opposition coalition on accused the government
Tuesday by challenging of continuing to commit
leader Nicolas Maduro in "flagrant violations" of the
the upcoming presidential electoral process.
election. Falcon consultant Eduardo
A campaign consultant for Semtei said, however, that
Henri Falcon said the former Falcon's challenge is justi-
governor and retired mili- fied by concessions such as
tary officer was prepared the government decision
to declare his candidacy. to allow international elec-
Falcon would be the only tion observers.
major politician so far to "It's a fact and a right," said
take on socialist President Semtei, confirming Falcon's
Maduro, who leads the oil- run to The Associated Press.
rich country beset by histor- The overall coalition is de-
ic economic and political manding more extensive
crisis. changes, including de-
Officials loyal to Maduro re- laying the vote and lifting
cently approved the presi- Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro flashes a victory sign to supporters during a ceremony bans on the most popular
dential vote for April 22 — a formalizing his candidacy as a candidate for the upcoming presidential election, at the CNE in political parties and candi-
Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2018. Officials loyal to Maduro recently approved an early
far earlier date than usual presidential election for April 22, drawing broad condemnation from the United States and several dates. It also wants guaran-
— after the breakdown of of Venezuela's Latin American neighbors who said the conditions for a fair election are lacking. tees that Venezuelans liv-
negotiations with the op- (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos) ing abroad can vote.
position over the electoral Falcon once served as a
process. Javier Corrales, a profes- no practical downside for collective good for the op- top aide to the late Presi-
The United States and sev- sor of Latin American poli- them. position." dent Hugo Chavez, but he
eral of Venezuela's Latin tics at Amherst College in "If Falcon loses — and he A coalition of some 20 op- later broke with the socialist
American neighbors criti- Massachusetts, said Fal- probably will — the opposi- position parties has said it party and joined the oppo-
cized the move, saying con's decision may cause tion will be able to say there refuses to participate un- sition, heading the minor-
conditions for a fair elec- tension among opposition were irregularities," Corrales til the government takes ity Advanced Progressive
tion are lacking. politicians, but it will have said. "If he wins, it will be a steps to ensure the vote is party.q

El Salvador's military not opening archives for missing kids

By MARCOS ALEMAN dren separated from their San Vicente province in that about 3,000 of all the archives it has been estab-
SAN SALVADOR, El Salva- families during combat be- 1982. Rivas blames the mili- disappeared were minors. lished that no documents
dor (AP) — More than 25 tween guerrillas and gov- tary for taking her daugh- The Supreme Court's de- or registries of any kind re-
years after the end of its ernment forces. ters. cision ordered the armed lated to the alleged opera-
civil war, families in El Salva- In a decision released in The U.N. Truth Commission forces to release informa- tion have been found."
dor are still searching for an January, El Salvador's Su- created with the signing tion related to a military op- The court responded that
estimated 3,000 children preme Court backed the of the peace agreement eration called "Mario Aze- if the military continues to
who disappeared in the demand of Nicolasa Rivas in January 1992 estimated non Palma." It was during refuse, it will ask President
fighting. for a probe into the disap- there were 5,000 forced that operation that Gladys Salvador Sanchez Ceren to
The country's military has so pearances of her daugh- disappearances during and Norma disappeared, exert pressure on it to open
far refused to open its ar- ters, Gladys Suleyma and the war. Families and hu- according to their mother. the archives. It also asked
chives from that period to Norma Climaco Rivas, who man rights advocates have The Defense Ministry has the prosecutor's office
allow an investigation into were 6 and 7 years old documented about 3,000 said that "after having to investigate the sisters'
the whereabouts of chil- when they went missing in more cases and estimate searched the institutional disappearance.q