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Colombia leader's cousin arrested | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A cousin and key ally of Colombian President Alvaro Uribe has been arrested over alleged ties to paramilitary groups. | |
Mario Uribe Escobar, who stepped down as a senator last October, denies accusations of criminal conspiracy. | |
He went to the Costa Rican embassy in Bogota seeking asylum, but his request was turned down. | |
As he left the embassy, he was taken into custody and driven away in a police jeep. | |
Mario Uribe is one of the most prominent figures arrested over alleged paramilitary links. | |
A jailed former paramilitary leader, Salvatore Mancuso, has alleged that he met Mario Uribe several times and was asked by him to support his senate campaign in 2002. | A jailed former paramilitary leader, Salvatore Mancuso, has alleged that he met Mario Uribe several times and was asked by him to support his senate campaign in 2002. |
Former paramilitary commanders have also testified that militias reached agreement with him to help him take over farmland. | Former paramilitary commanders have also testified that militias reached agreement with him to help him take over farmland. |
A statement from the prosecutor's office accused Mario Uribe of entering into "agreements to promote illegal armed groups," the Associated Press news agency said. | A statement from the prosecutor's office accused Mario Uribe of entering into "agreements to promote illegal armed groups," the Associated Press news agency said. |
"The arrest warrant for Senator Mario Uribe hurts me, but it is a pain I will accept with patriotism and without avoiding the fulfilment of my responsibilities," said President Uribe, shortly before his cousin was detained. | |
'Inappropriate' | 'Inappropriate' |
Mr Uribe went to the Costa Rican embassy shortly after the arrest warrant had been issued. | |
But the Costa Rican foreign ministry said it would be "inappropriate to grant asylum to Mario Uribe." | But the Costa Rican foreign ministry said it would be "inappropriate to grant asylum to Mario Uribe." |
President Alvaro Uribe spoke of "pain" at the arrest warrant | |
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. | The paramilitary groups, including the AUC, and the leftist rebels are listed by the US and the European Union as terrorist organisations. |