Venezuela Star
VenezuelaStar.com Saturday 4th September 2010 Volume 8/0247
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"This historic moment comes at a time of great uncertainty for many Americans. We have now been through nearly a decade of war. We have endured a long and painful recession. And sometimes in the midst of these storms, the future that we are trying to build for our nation - a future of lasting peace and long-term prosperity - may seem beyond our reach"
Barack Obama
US President Obama was making a national address Tuesday to mark the end of the combat mission in Iraq

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$£€ United States, Dollar Euro Venezuela, Bolivar Brazil, Real Colombia, Peso
United States, Dollar - 0.775 1000 1.732 1811.
Euro 1.289 - 1000 2.234 2335.
Venezuela, Bolivar 1000 1000 - 1000 1000
Brazil, Real 0.577 0.447 1000 - 1045.
Colombia, Peso 0.000 0.000 1000 0.000 -

bullet More Venezuela News corner
One ton of cocaine seized in Colombia
Analysis: Security, Regulatory Reforms Revive Colombia Oil Production
14 cops killed in Colombia ambush, rebels blamed
Venezuela's rife crime political peril for Chavez

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In Mexico, a high point for pot farms
Colombia beat Venezuela in friendly match
Serbia gets by Argentina
Venezuela introduces Cuba-like food card
Five police officers, three soldiers dead in Colombia
Electric Power - Ecuador - Termopichincha looks to widen scope with geothermal

bullet Arts corner
Bono's daughter in The Strips video
Guns N' Roses bottled off stage at Dublin gig after late arrival
Brendan Fraser heads to Broadway
Freaky Eaters Co-Host: "When Having Seconds Is Not Enough"
Center Stage sets charity bingo

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4,000 Venezuelan prisoners on hunger strike
More than 4,000 inmates of three Venezuelan jails went on a hunger strike in protest against alleged brutality by guards, judicial delays and overcrowding in...

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bullet 4,000 Venezuelan prisoners on hunger strike corner

More than 4,000 inmates of three Venezuelan jails went on a hunger strike in protest against alleged brutality by guards, judicial delays and overcrowding in prisons.

The protest involves 32 of the 80 inmates at Tocuyito prison, some 3,000 in the Aragua penitentiary and another 1,137 at Vista Hermosa prison, the Caracas daily El Universal said.

The protest began in Tocuyito, where inmates reported physical and mental mistreatment by guards following the escape of a prisoner this week.

Antonio Molina, defense counsel for one of the agitators, told El Universal that the guards 'have repeatedly beaten' the striking prisoners and have 'kicked and smashed their belongings and suspended their visits'.

The inmates at Vista Hermosa joined the hunger strike in solidarity with the prisoners in Tocuyito, said Julio Martinez, who has been held for two years in the penitentiary.

'We joined the strike...for the outrages committed against our fellow-prisoners over at Tocuyito, who are kept in solitary confinement, are permitted no visits and are being beaten,' Martinez told the Caracas newspaper.

Vista Hermosa is designed for 450 prisoners but currently houses 1,137, nearly three-quarters of them still awaiting trial, Ariza told the daily El Universal.

Aragua's more than 3,000 prisoners joined the protest complaining about overcrowding, trial delays and the mistreatment by the guards, they said in a communique.

The inmates said that the penitentiary was build to hold 600 people but now has 3,400, of whom only 350 have been tried and convicted.

In Venezuela's overcrowded prisons, 366 inmates died in 2009, according to figures from the independent Venezuelan Prison Observatory.

--IANS/EFE

hv


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Newspapers the world over strive to provide readers with the ultimate news coverage.

The Venezuela Star is no exception.

As an online news service we have advantages over traditional newspapers in that stories can be added and updated 24 hours day.

Our objective is to provide the most comprehensive Venezuela news available, from our resources, contracted wire services and an inventory of some thousands of sources comprising newspapers, cable and TV networks, radio stations, public broadcasters, NGOs and others, Venezuelan news is a priority.

National news comes first. We do however strive to provide a complete news services for our readers. World news headlines top several of our pages, we also provide news on what's happening in business, and in the financial markets.

Whether it's the latest Nikkei 225 reading in Tokyo, the sterling exchange rate in London, or the status of the Nasdaq in New York, whether it's local Venezuela news, the weather forecast for Venezuela you'll find it all in the Venezuela Star.

From the Amazon to Valencia, the Venezuela Star should be your number one choice for breaking news - local, regional, and national.

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    bullet Have Your Say corner
    With the departure of US combat troops from Iraq, is the Iraq war now over?


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