News In Brief

Argentina may join Contadora peace group

Argentina may become a member of the Contadora group of Latin American countries seeking a peaceful solution to the conflicts in Central America, Foreign Minister Dante Caputo said Wednesday.

Mr. Caputo said he would visit all four members of the Contadora group -- Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia, and Panama -- to discuss Argentine cooperation with their peace initiative. The tour could lead to Argentina's becoming a group member. In the meantime, Argentina's newly elected government has frozen arms shipments to Central America. The decision follows a press report here that the country's previous military administration sent $10 million worth of arms to Honduras shortly before stepping down from power earlier this month.