Colombians demand release of
ex-presidential candidate
Some 10,000 Colombians gathered
in the capital city of Bogota
Wednesday to demand the release
of ex-presidential candidate
Ingrid Betancurt kidnapped three
years ago by rebel forces and
other 60 hostages.
During the mass rally, Betancurt
supporters including her mother,
congressmen, college students
and businessmen issued a
statement demanding the
Revolutionary Armed Forces of
Colombia, or FARC, to abide by
humanitarian principles and
immediately release her and
other hostages.
The statement also urged the
Colombian government to seek a
humanitarian accord with the
rebel forces, under which
hostages held by the rebels
could be swapped for jailed
guerrillas.
Betancurt, 43, was a congress
member. She was kidnapped on
Feb.23, 2002, by the FARC during
a campaign swing in one of
Colombia's most active war
zones.
The FARC had proposed a swap of
the 60-odd hostages including
politicians and police held in
their hands for about 400 jailed
guerrillas. The offer was
rejected by the Colombian
government.
The FARC is the principal rebel
organization in Colombia, with
at least 17,000 combatants. It
operates on more than 100 fronts
throughout the country.
Security beefed up for Uruguay's
presidential inauguration
An intense security plan will be
carried out for the inaugural
ceremony of Uruguayan
President-elect Tabare Vazquez
on March 1 with the involvement
of 2,000 police agents, Interior
Ministry officials said
Wednesday.
According to the security plan
designed last week, police,
information and intelligence
departments, Interpol, highway
patrol and fire fighters will be
involved in the operation. The
command of the Montevideo police
will provide 1,500 agents to
guarantee the security.
Uruguay's Foreign Ministry said
160 delegations, including 600
representatives from foreign
countries and international
organizations, will attend the
ceremony.
Venezuelan President Hugo
Chavez, who suspects the US
government of plotting against
him, will be among the visitors.
A Venezuelan group arrived here
Monday to work out details of
his trip.
Cuban leader Fidel Castro may
also attend the event, but his
arrival is still kept secret.
The Uruguayan press revealed he
will stay at Belmont Hotel in
Carrasco, the same place where
he stayed during his previous
visit in February 1996.
Venezuelan FM repeats attack
accusations against US
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Ali
Rodriguez on Wednesday repeated
accusations that the United
States is part of a conspiracy
to have Venezuelan President
Hugo Chavez assassinated.
Findings by Venezuelan
intelligence pointed to the
deadly attempt, Rodriguez said
here at a special session of the
permanent council of the
Organization of American States
(OAS).
"We can't just throw out
information from our
intelligence organizations that
point towards attempts to
physically liquidate our
president," he said.
On Sunday, Chavez accused the
United States of plotting to
have him killed, which US State
Department spokesman Richard
Boucher denied Tuesday as
"ridiculous and untrue."
However, the foreign minister
said his country will continue
to be a reliable source of
petroleum exports to the United
States.
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Cuba destroys 610 kg of
marijuana
Cuba has burnt more than 610
kg of marijuana seized in
November at the sea, said
the Interior Ministry.
The drugs were seized in
November as police
intercepted a speedboat of
unknown origin and detained
three Jamaican suspects.
Located on the marine route
of drug trafficking from
South America to the United
States and Europe, Cuba has
seized about 600tons of
drugs, mostly marijuana,
since 1997.
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