Latin American and Caribbean leaders have agreed to set up a new regional grouping that excludes the United States and Canada. The accord was announced at a summit in Mexico by the host President Felipe Calderon. He said the new alliance would represent an alternative to the Organization of American States, which for the past half century has been the main international forum for the Americas. An Argentine MP Agustin Rossi expressed satisfaction with the backing the new group gave his country in its latest row with Britain over the Falkland Islands, which Argentina calls the Malvinas.
"It was a really good day's work for us yesterday, not only for the unanimity of the support, but also for the forcefulness of the declaration, which is a more forceful declaration than we could have obtained at the Organization of American States."
The most senior officer in the United States Army, General George Casey, says he has serious concerns over efforts to lift a ban on homosexuals serving openly in the military. President Obama is in favor of ending the ban and a review has been ordered. But General Casey said that while he supported the review, he was concerned about the effect overturning the ban would have on troops currently engaged in two wars.
Ethiopian Airlines say all the bodies have been recovered of 90 people killed when one of its airliners crashed into the sea off Beirut last month. The company said all victims had been identified.