PBH / colombia (travelguide, pictures) / post

Bombs in Cartagena December 2004

Well, for all you guys who are talking about how nice and safe Colombia is, especially Cartagena, here is a news story for you.

This explains why the police on the streets the last week are from Bogota. (I was stopped by an English speaking cop, for sure not a native from Cartagena!)

Police foil plot 'to kill Uribe'

Colombian police say they have thwarted a plot by rebels to kill President Alvaro Uribe by attacking his plane.

A spokesman said officers arrested two suspected members of the left-wing Farc group, and took more than 100kg (220lb) of explosives, in raids in Cartagena.

The news comes three days after police in the capital, Bogota, said they found a car bomb they believe was for use in an assassination bid against Mr Uribe.

The president has survived more than 10 attempts on his life.

Highly protected

The spokesman in Cartagena said officers found two homemade mortars and documents describing Mr Uribe's previous visits to the northern city, where he has an official residence.

The BBC's Jeremy McDermott in Colombia says Farc - the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia - has intensified its efforts to kill Mr Uribe, who is seeking to change the constitution so he can be re-elected.

Mr Uribe has led a US-backed campaign to crack down on the country's militia.

Farc leaders do not want another administration supported by the US, committed to launching all-out military offensives against them, our correspondent adds.

The Colombian president is already the most highly protected Latin American leader and his bodyguards have been sent to the US for training.

By (Deleted user) on Jan 3, 2005, 22:56 in Friendly Talkzone.

Sam Salmon says on Jan 3, 2005, 23:31:

Old News That's old news-have you been reading old BBC articles?

As to English speaking cop I've met all kinds of people in CTG who speak English-they like a friendly happy person like me to practise on.

Just what is your point anyway?

' a la orden!'

' a la orden!'

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Miguel says on Jan 3, 2005, 23:41:

Really Old News In addition, I remember reading about 2 other plots to get Uribe that were foiled in the past couple of weeks. Read Colombian newspapers online for updated information, or the Radio Caracol and RCN websites.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Hunter says on Jan 4, 2005, 12:46:

Cops from Bogota Some police rotate throughout the differant areas of Colombia, I have met several tourist Police in Ctg who were posted there from other parts of the Country, normally for two years.

Asd to their being bombs in Ctg, they normally find several a year, still doesn't make it unsafe, they find more in London each year, does that stop you going there.

Hunter

0 funny, 0 helpful.