Clinton also expressed concern about democratically-elected leaders in Latin America who later move to undermine democratic institutions.

Clinton’s remarks at a State Department public policy forum on Latin America were some of the strongest by an Obama administration official to date about increasing Iranian activity in the region.

Iran has been establishing close political, trade and other relationships with several Latin American governments, underlined by recent visits by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Brazil, Venezuela and Bolivia.

In a question and answer session with participants in the event, Clinton said the United States has “no problem” with non-Western Hemisphere countries like China having legitimate business and investment activities in Latin America.

But she said US officials are concerned about what she said was Iran’s “interest in promoting itself” in countries like Venezuela and Bolivia and said allowing Iranian influence to take root is, in her words, “a very bad idea for the countries involved.”

“We hope that there will be recognition that this is the major supporter, promoter and exporter of terrorism in the world today,” she said. “The Revolutionary Guard of Iran is increasing its control over the country because of the elections, which were a stark example of the abuse of human rights in action, is deeply involved in the economy as well as the security issues of Iran.

As many as nine people were being held captive in the downtown office building about six hours after the hostage-taking began.

Police evacuated the building and spokesman Jeff Wuite told reporters that officers were negotiating with the man, described as a disgruntled compensation claimant.

The Edmonton Journal newspaper quoted an acquaintance of the man as saying he is a former construction worker with a long-held grudge against the board that stems from a botched knee examination.

In the Amazonian state of Para, years of destruction have left their mark, with land cleared by loggers or for use by cattle.

Travel in this area can be precarious, as you drive along flooded dirt tracks and cross fragile bridges just narrow enough for one vehicle to pass.

Twisted metal hangs from the front of a bus that amazingly makes its way along this route, creeping tentatively up the muddier slopes, and travelling more slowly going down them.

We are making a five-hour journey from the town of Paragominas, to the small community of Tembe Indians.