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Colombia orders Uribe ally arrest | Colombia orders Uribe ally arrest |
(about 4 hours 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. |
Mario Uribe Escobar, who stepped down as a senator last October, is accused of criminal conspiracy. | Mario Uribe Escobar, who stepped down as a senator last October, is accused of criminal conspiracy. |
He denies any wrongdoing but has sought political asylum in Costa Rica. | He denies any wrongdoing but has sought political asylum in Costa Rica. |
He is one of the most prominent figures caught up in the scandal that has seen dozens of politicians arrested over their 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 their alleged links to paramilitaries. |
'Parapolitics' | '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. |
A statement from the prosecutor's office accused Mr Uribe of entering into "agreements to promote illegal armed groups," the Associated Press news agency said. | A statement from the prosecutor's office accused Mr Uribe of entering into "agreements to promote illegal armed groups," the Associated Press news agency said. |
One of his lawyers, Jose del Carmen Ortega, said Mr Uribe went to the Costa Rican embassy in Bogota to seek asylum shortly after the arrest warrant was issued. | One of his lawyers, Jose del Carmen Ortega, said Mr Uribe went to the Costa Rican embassy in Bogota to seek asylum shortly after the arrest warrant was issued. |
The scandal is inching closer to President Alvaro Uribe | |
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. | 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 president remains popular, however, for overseeing aggressive military action against leftist rebels. | Most of those being investigated are allies of President Uribe. The president remains popular, however, for overseeing aggressive military action against leftist rebels. |
He also negotiated the 2003 peace deal that saw paramilitary leaders surrender and demobilise 31,000 of their men in exchange for reduced jail terms and protection from extradition. | He also negotiated the 2003 peace deal that saw paramilitary leaders surrender and demobilise 31,000 of their men in exchange for reduced jail terms and protection from extradition. |
The right-wing militias were created by landowners and drug-traffickers to combat left-wing rebels and anyone suspected of being a sympathiser. | The right-wing militias were created by landowners and drug-traffickers to combat left-wing rebels and anyone suspected of being a sympathiser. |
The paramilitary groups, including the AUC, and the leftist rebels are listed by the US and the European Union as terrorist organisations. |