President Barack Obama departed El Salvador Wednesday, wrapping up a five-day, three-nation Latin America trip meant to turn the page on troubled US relations with the region and usher in a new era of partnership.
The trip, shortened a couple of hours by Obama's last minute conference with aides about US military operations in Libya, saw the US leader sign trade and open skies deals with Brazil, education and nuclear-cooperation agreements with Chile, and security agreements with El Salvador.
And during a major address Monday, the US leader acknowledged the region's growing economic and political importance, telling an audience in Chile that Latin America had become "more important to the prosperity and security of the United States than ever before."
On his last stop in El Salvador, Obama said Tuesday that he remains committed to reforming US immigration policies and pledged to help keep the tiny Central American country on a path of development.
Over the past few decades millions of Salvadorans have immigrated to the United States some fleeing war and political repression, others seeking to improve their economic situation.
The visit to the violence-wracked Central American nation was overshadowed by the conflict with Libya, and Obama trimmed his schedule for Wednesday to hold a morning teleconference with his national security advisers.
US officials said the scheduling change meant he had to miss an outing to a Mayan ruin with First Lady Michelle Obama and their daughters Sasha and Malia.
On Tuesday he held talks with Salvador
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