LATAM POLITICS TODAY-Mexico rejects US claim cartels control parts of country

The latest in Latin American politics today: Mexico denies cartels control parts of country, rejecting Blinken remark

MEXICO CITY - Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Friday denied that parts of his country are controlled by drug cartels, responding to recent comments from U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Blinken said in a congressional hearing this week that it was "fair to say" that parts of the country were controlled by cartels instead of the government, and that the opioid fentanyl coming from Mexico was killing both Americans and Mexicans.

UN denounces excessive force against recent Peru protests A UN committee expressed concern on Friday over alleged human rights violations in recent anti-government protests in Peru and condemned the excessive use of force and firearms against demonstrators by security forces.

Following the impeachment of President Pedro Castillo on Dec. 7, the Andean country was plunged into a wave of street protests that resulted in the deaths of 67 people in the worst unrest in the South American nation in more than 20 years. Bolsonaro to return to Brazil on March 30, his party says

SAO PAULO - Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro will return to Brazil on March 30, his Liberal Party confirmed via social media on Friday, following more than three months of self-imposed exile in the United States after losing his re-election bid. Bolsonaro traveled to the United States on Dec. 30, just two days before the inauguration of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, skipping the traditional ritual of passing the presidential sash to his successor.

China vows more cooperation with Brazil on agriculture -ministry HONG KONG - China's and Brazil's agriculture have their own characteristics and there is a large space for cooperation, China's agriculture ministry said on Friday, after a meeting between ministers from the two nations.

The two sides should strengthen cooperation in key areas such as agricultural scientific research, pesticide industry, biological breeding and intelligent equipment, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said in a statement. (Compiled by Steven Grattan; Editing by Bill Berkrot)