Briefily: Americas

CUBA

Peru’s president-elect meets Raul Castro

HAVANA — Peru’s president-elect, Ollanta Humala, arrived in Cuba early Tuesday at the invitation of President Raul Castro, official state media reported.

The leftist Pervian leader’s visit comes at the same time Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is in the Cuban capital for chemotherapy treatment for cancer. Mr. Humala was once seen as an ally of Chavez-style socialist politics but has recently played down his ties to the Venezuelan strongman.

The Cuban official daily Granma said Mr. Humala would hold “official talks” with Mr. Castro and had other activities planned, including a possible meeting with former president Fidel Castro.

Mr. Humala, who takes office July 28, arrived in Havana from Mexico, where he met Mexican President Felipe Calderon as part of a tour of the region that began after his election victory June 5.

He has been to Venezuela, the United States, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay and Uruguay.

MEXICO

Two tourists die in Acapulco gun attack

ACAPULCO — Authorities in Acapulco say two Mexican tourists have been killed in a gun attack at a restaurant on the main oceanfront avenue in the tourist zone of this Pacific coastal resort. Two other people are wounded.

State police say an undetermined number of attackers fired assault rifles and 9 mm pistols early Saturday into El Zorrito, a traditional Mexican restaurant on the city’s main Miguel Aleman Boulevard. The gunmen escaped.

The attack came a day after a gunman standing near the shoreline avenue fired at swimmers in the bay, scattering panicked vacationers across the beach. Authorities say he fired at least 10 shots.

A 38-year-old woman visiting from Mexico City was wounded in the right leg and taken to a hospital.

ECUADOR

Authorities ban alcohol after bootleg liquor kills 19

QUITO — Authorities have banned the sale of alcohol in an Ecuadorean community where 19 people died after drinking bootleg liquor.

Public Health Minister David Chiriboga says 102 people have been treated for intoxication from illegal alcohol in the coastal town of Urdaneta in Los Rios province, where eight were initially reported dead.

Mr. Chiriboga said the death toll rose to 19 over the weekend and police have seized 28 containers each with 55 gallons of alcohol contaminated with methanol. Methyl alcohol is a toxic substance sometimes used to illegally produce cheap liquor.

The health minister said a dry law prohibiting the sale or consumption of alcohol has been in effect since Saturday in the area. The owner of the alcohol is being sought by police.

CANADA

Storm topples stage at Cheap Trick concert

TORONTO — The main stage at a blues concert in the Canadian capital, Ottawa, collapsed Sunday night during a Cheap Trick concert as a severe thunderstorm sent the musicians and thousands of fans running for cover. At least five people were injured, one seriously.

Cheap Trick’s band members got off the stage safely, but witnesses said they were thrown off their feet.

Video of the Ottawa Bluesfest site posted on YouTube within minutes of the storm’s passing showed a stage that had crumpled and collapsed over electronic equipment. Twisted shards of metal jutted out from the stage, which stood several stories tall before it was destroyed.

Marc Messier, a spokesman for Ottawa Fire Services, said a 49-year-old man was in serious condition with abdominal, pelvic and leg injuries. Another had a spinal injury and a third person experienced chest pains. At least eight other people were treated at the scene for minor issues including twisted ankles and anxiety.

Environment Canada had a thunderstorm warning in effect for Ottawa, saying winds were expected to reach 56 mph.

From wire dispatches and staff reports