Latin American, Caribbean: new regional group

Latin American, Caribbean countries create a new regional group
Leaders from 32 countries in the Caribbean and Central and South America have agreed to create a new regional bloc to streamline efforts on poverty and economic issues. The new grouping will include Cuba, but exclude Canada and the U.S. "We will strengthen our voice in the concert of nations through this new mechanism, to become protagonists and no longer mere spectators of what happens in the world," Mexican President Felipe Calderon said of the agreement. The New York Times (free registration) (2/23)