Weekly Report - 13 March 2008 (ISSN 1741-7422)

A two-week visit by an IMF mission to Managua failed to yield much success for the Nicaraguan government. While acknowledging some "progress", the IMF is reportedly unhappy about salary increases, the government's failure to implement reforms in the energy sector and the lack of transparency surrounding the management of Venezuelan funds, with negotiations set to continue over the next few days in Washington.