Belize senate approves takeover

The Belize Senate has approved the government takeover of the country\'s main telecommunications company, Belize Telemedia.



Parliamentarians learned of the government\'s intention to nationalize the company when the matter came up for debate in the House of Representatives on Monday.



Telemedia was owned by Lord Michael Ashcroft, a deputy chairman of Britain\'s opposition Conservative Party.



Lord Ashcroft has extensive business interests in Belize, where he is also a citizen.



However, he has been locked in protracted court battles with the Dean Barrow administration, over deals surrounding the running of the company.