Scandal colors Bush visit to U.S. ally Colombia

05 Mar 2007 18:11:53 GMT
Source: Reuters

By Patrick Markey

BOGOTA, March 5 (Reuters) - A scandal tying allies of Colombian President Alvaro Uribe to paramilitary gangs has U.S. Democrats questioning aid and trade deals days before President George W. Bush meets with his closest Latin American ally.
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But eight pro-Uribe lawmakers and a security agency chief he appointed are now jailed on charges that they colluded with militia commanders accused of atrocities during the darker days of the conflict before their peace deal with the government.

The convergence of the scandal, the new U.S. Congress, the aid renewal and debate on approving a U.S. free trade deal with Colombia could not have come at a worse time, but that has so far not dented Uribe's support in Washington, analysts said.

"The mood in Congress is going negative quickly. The tilt is not against Uribe so far, but against the paramilitaries," said Riordan Roett, Latin America studies director at Johns Hopkins University.

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