Latin America Digest: Today’s one-line news briefs

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Mexico City, Mexico — Kidnap victims freed from a place called the Chosen of God rehab center said Friday they were snatched from the streets and held in slave-like conditions — beaten, robbed and forced to work 16 hours a day making shopping bags and clothespins.

Havana, Cuba -- Cuban officials defended the country’s progress in providing social and personal opportunities for blacks and people of mixed race after prominent black leaders in the U.S. challenged its record.

Tegucigalpa, Honduras — Honduran activists ended five months of daily protests demanding the reinstatement of former President Manuel Zelaya, who was ousted in a June coup, saying they’re ‘closing that chapter’ now that Congress has voted to keep Zelaya out of office.

Bogota, Colombia — Colombian Defense Minister Gabriel Silva said Venezuelan troops had blown up another makeshift bridge across their frontier and were holding a Colombian soldier who had accidentally crossed the border.

— Times wire reports