Third World Debt Up $5 Billion: Fifteen...

Third World Debt Up $5 Billion: Fifteen Third World countries singled out by the United States for special help will fall behind by another $4.9 billion in interest payments to U.S. and other banks this year, raising their arrears to a record $15 billion. Brazil, Argentina and Mexico owe the most, according figures compiled by the Institute of International Finance, a group of the leading lending banks. By the end of 1990, the 15 countries will owe about $524 billion to lending banks and governments, with nearly another $50 billion in interest payments falling due. Most have not paid anything on the principal of their debt since the crisis began in 1982.