Colombian Prosecutor's Office to Examine Delivery of Soldiers to US
The Colombian Prosecutor's Office announced Friday it would examine the delivery process of two US soldiers to officials of the US Embassy in Bogota, after they were caught trafficking in illegal arms.

Despite a request from the Public Ministry to wait for at least 48 hours, the Prosecutor"s Office handed over the two US soldiers (a colonel and a sergeant) to the US Embassy Thursday.

The two soldiers were assigned to the so-called National Army Training Center, and were working there as shooting instructors for special and counter-guerrilla troops.

At the time of their arrest, they had 35,000 cartridges of different calibers, and according to the police report, they were going to be sold to paramilitary Colombia United Self Defense (AUC) troops.

In statements to the press, General Prosecutor Edgardo Maya said he considers it important to analyze the situation carefully with respect to bilateral agreements and the supremacy of the constitution, to ascertain whether they can be tried in Colombia.

US Pentagon spokesperson Brian Whitman said the two US soldiers are under US custody in the Embassy, while officials try to clear up facts and decide how to proceed.

This is the third illegal action in which US soldiers are involved in less than a month, and many voices in Colombia are demanding a revision of bilateral agreements.

Congressman Carlos Cuervo and Senator Jimmy Chamorro were two of these protesting voices. Chamorro said the scandal will be discussed in the Colombian Congress, and the Ministers of Defense, Jorge Alberto Uribe, and Interior, Sabas Pretelt, will be called.