Saca said at a press conference in San Salvador that the origin of the threats against El Salvador for his deployment of troops as part of the US-led occupation force in Iraq, presumably by radical Muslim groups, are still under investigation, with information exchange with the rest of the Central American countries.

However, the president said, "We have to be responsible and think there is always a chance these threats are real, so we have to take measures. Our diplomatic representations all over the world have requested various governments to provide extra security to prevent any surprise."

El Salvador has since Aug. 5 received a series of threats launched by radical Muslim groups via Internet and communiques, the latest of which came on Sunday.

The so-called Mohammed Atta-Al-Qaida Brigates reiterated their threats Sunday in an audio document released through a Muslim-operated website.

The extremist group said the Salvadorean government would "bear the responsibility for the blood that will be spilled" should the country not withdraw its troops from Iraq before a 20-day deadline issued on Aug. 16.

"We swear by God ... that you will regret dearly for your presence in Iraq," vowed the group.

Although the threats from radical Muslim groups were not proved, the Salvadorean government has reinforced security at ports, airports and border posts to prevent an attack.

El Salvador is now the only Latin American country which still has troops in Iraq. Nicaragua, Honduras and the Dominican Republic have withdrawn their troops.

Panama withdraws ambassador from Cuba
Panamanian President Mireya Moscoso on Monday withdrew her country's ambassador in Havana, one day after Cuba threatened to cut diplomatic relations over Panama's possible pardon of anti-Castro activists.

Panama "cannot be subjected to interference or threats by any foreign government," Moscoso said while announcing the recall of ambassador Abraham Barcenas.

"Panama will make its most energetic protest for the repeated and unacceptable interference by the Cuban government in the internal affairs of Panama," said the outgoing Moscoso.

Cuba on Sunday threatened to sever diplomatic ties with Panama if Moscoso gave a pardon to anti-Castro activists accused by the Panamanian justice of attempting to murder Cuban President Fidel Castro.

"We want to warn that, if these monstrous criminals are pardoned, diplomatic relations between the republics of Cuba and Panama will automatically be broken," the Cuban government said in a statement.

The four Cuban exiles, Luis Posada Carriles, Gaspar Jimenez, Pedro Remon and Guillermo Novo Sampol, were arrested in November 2000 for allegedly having planned to assassinate Castro at a 2000 summit of Latin American and Iberian leaders in Panama.

A Panamanian tribunal sentenced Luis Posada and Gaspar Jimenez Escobedo to eight years in prison, and Guillermo Novo Sampol and Pedro Remon, seven years in prison, for endangering public safety and forging documents, but not for the presumed assassination attempt against Castro.

Moscoso on Monday denied that the four Cubans were included in any list of prisoners to be pardoned before she hands over the presidency to Martin Torrijos on Sept. 1.

"I have not made any decisions to pardon Panamanians or foreigners, but if I do, I will announce it," she said.

Barcenas on Monday left the embassy in Havana after Moscoso ordered his departure, workers of the embassy said.

El Salvador completes sending 380 troops to Iraq amid attack threats
El Salvador has completed sending its third contingent of 380 troops to Iraq amid fears of being the target of terrorist attacks by radical Muslim groups, according to reports from Salvadorean capital San Salvador on Monday.

Eighty Salvadorean troops on Sunday night flew from the Comalapa Base, 45 km south of San Salvador, to Kuwait, from which they will move to Iraq. The first two groups of the third contingent, with 150 troops each, departed for Kuwait on Thursday and Friday.

This third contingent will replace the 300 Salvadorean troops who have completed a six-month mission in Iraq. Salvadorean troops take security tasks in Iraq, and are not a combat force.

El Salvador is now the only Latin American country which still has troops in Iraq. Nicaragua, Honduras and the Dominican Republic withdrew their troops from Iraq following Spain's pullout in April.

A radical Muslim group, the Mohammed Atta Al-Qaida Islamic Brigades, warned on the Internet that "we swear to God that you (El Salvador) will deeply regret your presence in Iraq."

On Aug. 16, the group gave El Salvador 20 days to withdraw its troops from Iraq or else it will be the target of attacks.

Another group, Tawhid Islamic, also vowed to turn Iraq into an "inferno" for the Salvadorean troops.

In the face of these threats, the government of Salvadorean President Elias Saca, has vowed to keep providing forces for the security and reconstruction of Iraq.

Although the authenticity of the threats have not been proved, the Salvadorian government has requested extra security for its embassies around the world and reinforced security at ports, airports and border posts.

El Salvador sent its first contingent of 360 soldiers to Iraq in August 2003.

In April, the El Salvador contingent was attacked at its base of Najaf in southern Iraq, leaving one soldier dead and 12 injured.

One soldier killed, three injured in mine explosion in Colombia
One soldier was killed and three others were injured in a mine explosion in the west central province of Tolima, said the Army News Agency on Monday.

According to the agency, the minefield, located in the rural area of Rovira, Tolima, was set by the guerrillas of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in the region.

The victims were part of a group of soldiers seeking to "cope with the terrorist actions" of the FARC, Colombia's biggest rebel organization with up to 20,000 combatants.

According to figures from the government, minefields exist in 30 of the 32 provinces of the country and have been set by FARC, the National Liberation Army (ELN), which is the second largest guerrilla organization of Colombia, and the right-wing paramilitaries of the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC).

So far this year, at least 393 people have fallen victims to antipersonnel mines, 60 percent of whom are members of the armed forces.