But the Uruguayan leader, a doctor by training,lamented that Latin American governments are devoting growing resources to armaments rather than dealing with pressing social needs including health and education.

VOA: standard.2009.09.15

He expressed reluctance to comment on American domestic affairs, but suggested that a renewal of the now-expired U.S.ban on assault weapons would be helpful in curbing the flow of high-powered armaments to Mexican drug cartels.

VOA: standard.2009.04.12