Colombia paramilitary scandal widens

Colombia paramilitary scandal widens
Electoral fraud charges are filed against a governor as Interpol discloses that it has issued a warrant for a former congressman.
By Chris Kraul, Times Staff Writer
March 13, 2007

BOGOTA, COLOMBIA — The scandal tying political supporters of President Alvaro Uribe with outlawed paramilitary leaders widened Monday as prosecutors filed electoral fraud charges against Trino Luna, the governor of the influential coastal state of Magdalena.

Also, Interpol disclosed that it had issued an international arrest warrant on kidnapping charges for Alvaro Araujo Noguera, a former congressman and minister who is the father of former Foreign Minister Maria Consuelo Araujo. She resigned last month after her brother, Sen. Alvaro Araujo, was jailed on suspicion of conspiring with paramilitaries to kidnap a political rival.

The theme of paramilitaries' infiltration of the Colombian government came up Sunday during President Bush's visit to Bogota.

At a news conference, Bush professed his confidence in Uribe's government to lead a thorough and impartial investigation that so far has resulted in the arrests of eight congressmen, all Uribe backers. Uribe has not been accused of illegal dealings.

LinkHere