Al Gore withdraws from environmental conference (hates Uribe)

World Updates
Friday April 20, 2007


Al Gore withdraws from environmental conference

BOGOTA (AP) - Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore has withdrawn from an environmental conference in Miami after learning that Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, accused by opponents of aiding the rise of far-right death squads, would be attending, the president said late Thursday.

Gore's office informed conference organizers that he "would not attend the event because he could not share the stage with the president of Colombia after the political debates in Colombia against the Uribe Velez family and against the president,'' Uribe said in a hastily called news conference.

Uribe said he would travel Friday to Miami for the New America Alliance Green Forum.

The news conference, which was carried live on all of Colombia's major networks, was called to address growing allegations that while he was governor in a northern province, Uribe allowed the paramilitaries to use his property for meetings and killings and aided the group's rise.

He has denied having any involvement with the illegal militias.

Considered terrorist groups by the U.S. government, the paramilitaries are responsible for some of the worst massacres in Colombia's long-running civil conflict.

Uribe also said he was once questioned by a prosecutor about killings on a farm owned by his family, but added that his family had abandoned the farm because of rising violence in the region.

The snowballing scandal linking the paramilitaries to Colombia's political elite has crept ever closer to the president.

On Wednesday, three more pro-government congressmen were called to testify before the Supreme Court. One, Sen. Ruben Dario Quintero, was the private secretary to Uribe when he was the governor of Antioquia province between 1995 and 1997.

Eight legislators are already in jail on charges of helping the paramilitaries launch a nationwide offensive that killed thousands.

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By (Deleted user) on Apr 19, 2007, 22:40 in Friendly Talkzone.

goin_south says on Apr 19, 2007, 22:50: well, I would be scared if Al Gore was getting respect.. Last time I saw, he looked like he was going to blow up (not a doll) Imagine... I mean, he's a what? 'Specialist on Global Warming'? while it has been freezing and cold in LATE APRIL in Los Estados Unidos??? lol!!! Global Warming???.... to many people eating a really bad diet and farting too, too much.... global warming... lol nothin I say is to be takn for my words, but rather for the words of Sailor Jerry. 0 funny, 0 helpful.

miamimike says on Apr 19, 2007, 23:25: Yep the Drumbeat is Getting Louder for Urribe as to what Transpired years back on that family owned Farm,,,A lot of politicos here in the USA want Urribe to offer those representing Colombia's workers more protection and the right to Organize without fear of losing their lives. This US Aid Package is in Jeopardy if Urribe doesn't make some concrete changes. On Al Gore funny thing, most people out of the USA cannot understand(and with good reason)is why he wasn't the Presidental Winner after receiving 500,000 more of the Popular Vote; its is perplexing to many of us also here in the USA.BS to the Electoral College. Wonder what the deal on Iraq would be had Gore been elected President,,, Bésame, bésame mucho Como si fuera esta noche La última vez Bésame, bésame mucho Que tengo miedo a perderte Perderte después Bésame, bésame mucho Como si fuera esta noche La última vez Bésame, bésame mucho Que tengo miedo a perderte Perderte de 0 funny, 0 helpful.

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