This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/7361287.stm
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Colombia orders Uribe ally arrest | Colombia orders Uribe ally arrest |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Colombian prosecutors have ordered the arrest of a cousin and key ally of President Alvaro Uribe over alleged ties to paramilitary groups. | Colombian prosecutors have ordered the arrest of a cousin and key ally of President Alvaro Uribe over alleged ties to paramilitary groups. |
| The chief prosecutor's office said Mario Uribe Escobar was accused of criminal conspiracy. | The chief prosecutor's office said Mario Uribe Escobar was accused of criminal conspiracy. |
| Mr Uribe, who stepped down as a senator last October, denies any wrongdoing. | Mr Uribe, who stepped down as a senator last October, denies any wrongdoing. |
| He is one of the most prominent figures caught up in the scandal that has seen dozens of politicians arrested over alleged links to paramilitaries. | He is one of the most prominent figures caught up in the scandal that has seen dozens of politicians arrested over alleged links to paramilitaries. |
| 'Parapolitics' | |
| A jailed former paramilitary leader, Salvatore Mancuso, has alleged that he met several times with Mario Uribe, who asked him to support his senate campaign in 2002. | A jailed former paramilitary leader, Salvatore Mancuso, has alleged that he met several times with Mario Uribe, who asked him to support his senate campaign in 2002. |
| Mr Uribe had entered into "agreements to promote illegal armed groups," the Associated Press news agency said. | |
| To date, inquiries have been opened into dozens of current or former members of congress over their alleged ties to the United Self-defence Forces of Colombia (AUC) paramilitaries in what has been dubbed the "parapolitics" scandal. | |
| Most of those being investigated are allies of President Uribe. | |
| The paramilitaries were created by landowners and drug-traffickers to combat left-wing rebels and anyone suspected of being a sympathiser. | The paramilitaries were created by landowners and drug-traffickers to combat left-wing rebels and anyone suspected of being a sympathiser. |
| In a 2003 peace deal with the government, paramilitary leaders surrendered and demobilised 31,000 of their men in exchange for reduced jail terms and protection from extradition. | |
| The paramilitary groups, including the AUC, and the leftist rebels are listed by the US and the European as terrorist organisations. |