Contributions from Carin Zissis
Leaders from Central America met Friday to discuss how to mitigate the effects of the global financial crisis. Calling for deeper integration, leaders proposed creating a common currency and passport.
At a time of economic uncertainty, Prime Minister Stephen Harper suspended Canadian Parliament to head off a move by an opposition coalition that could have ended his premiership. The fight to lead Canada comes just weeks after a national election and leaves the country's leadership after January in doubt.
Facing a global financial crisis, 21 leaders met in Lima to caution against protectionism and call for resumption of the Doha Round of trade talks. The APEC summit also served as U.S. President George W. Bush's last scheduled trip abroad, where he pressed for “free markets, free trade, and free people.”