Latin America Digest: Belarus backs Venezuela, Brazil investigates priests and Cuba hears appeal on prisoners

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Today’s One-Line News Briefs:

Caracas, Venezuela — Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko offered to help Venezuela strengthen its military, saying Tuesday that President Hugo Chavez’s government should not have to worry about foreign threats.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil — Brazilian authorities are investigating three priests accused of sexually abusing altar boys after a video allegedly showing one case of abuse was broadcast on television, police and church officials said.

Havana, Cuba — The human rights group Amnesty International appealed to Cuban President Raul Castro to release political prisoners and scrap laws that restrict fundamental freedoms, using the seventh anniversary of a major crackdown on dissent to call for change.

-- Times wire reports