US attacked over Latin America

news.ft.com By Richard Lapper Published: February 28 2003 4:00 | Last Updated: February 28 2003 4:00

The US could have helped "avert or at least temper" the crises in Argentina and Venezuela, according to a report published today by a Washington-based Latin American think-tank.

Although it welcomes the advances on the trade front, the Inter-American Dialogue says that Latin Americans believe the US has "lost interest in the region" and sharply criticises the Bush administration's record there.

IAD says US policymakers must give greater priority to "full-blown crises" that could take "years to resolve".