LIMA, Peru (AP) - Condemning the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, leaders from Latin America, Spain and Portugal began work Friday on a joint strategy to battle international terrorism.Argentina's economic crisis and the problem of drug trafficking were also high in the agenda of the 21 leaders at the annual Ibero-American summit.
In Friday's opening session, the presidents expressed growing concern over the effects of the attacks against the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on their struggling economies.
For the first time in 11 years, the two-day summit will go on without Cuban President Fidel Castro, who stayed home to help with reconstruction efforts after the devastation of Hurricane Michelle earlier this month. Cuba was represented by Vice President Carlos Lage.
Draft text for the summit's final statement calls the attacks against the United States ``barbarian acts, because they are tantamount to an insult to human dignity and a threat to democracy.''
While the leaders were expected to support the U.S. armed campaign against terrorism, the prepared text also called for such a response be carried out within the rules of the United Nations.
Under discussion was a joint commitment by the leaders to promote legal changes at home aimed at cracking down on terrorists. That includes an agreement to make it easier for nations to extradite suspected terrorists.
The leaders were expected to sign off on the statement before the summit concludes.
Regional leaders have warned that economic instability may also threaten democratic rule.
The summit's draft also included an appeal to developed nations and banks to allow ``a more flexible treatment'' of poor countries' debts.