Colombian Presidential Hopefuls Get Ready for Polls
Colombian presidential candidates are expected to stage their last public all-out showdown today, a week before the general elections scheduled for May 28.

From now until May 26, they will be only allowed to appear in in-door places or before the media.

Last Friday, president-candidate Alvaro Uribe closed his campaign in the mythical Bogota-based Plaza Bolivar, which he was not able to fill despite some unorthodox efforts by parties supporting his re-election, including the decision of the IDEAS University rector to force students to attend or risk losing their places at the higher education facility.

Opposition Polo Democratico Alternativo candidate, Carlos Gaviria, is expected to wind up his campaign Sunday afternoon, with followers betting for a packed Plaza Bolivar.

On his part, Partido Liberal hopeful Horacio Serpa was in Sucre on Saturday, visiting Corozal and Sincelejo municipalities, where he met with well known community leaders including Congress member Gabriel Espinosa.

Serpa will wind up his campaign with a tour of about 10 Bogota localities, where he will hold public meeting with followers of liberalism.

The fourth hopeful, Carlos Arturo Rincon, of Movimiento Comunal, used Boyaca House, in Bogota, to end his campaign accompanied by 200 community leaders and street vendors.