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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Colombia warlord extradited to US | Colombia warlord extradited to US |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Colombia has extradited a right-wing militia leader to the US on drug charges, despite an outcry from victims' groups and rights activists. | Colombia has extradited a right-wing militia leader to the US on drug charges, despite an outcry from victims' groups and rights activists. |
| Ever Veloza had co-operated freely with prosecutors, leading them to unmarked graves and admitting dozens of murders. | Ever Veloza had co-operated freely with prosecutors, leading them to unmarked graves and admitting dozens of murders. |
| His testimony had alleged high-level collusion between paramilitaries, politicians and the security forces. | |
| Rights groups say his extradition should have been delayed and could leave dozens of cases unsolved. | Rights groups say his extradition should have been delayed and could leave dozens of cases unsolved. |
| Knew too much? | Knew too much? |
| US officials have promised to give Colombian prosecutors unfettered access to Veloza. | US officials have promised to give Colombian prosecutors unfettered access to Veloza. |
| I think he was able to confess to about 50% of his crimes Nubia ChavezProsecutor Colombia confronts bloody past | I think he was able to confess to about 50% of his crimes Nubia ChavezProsecutor Colombia confronts bloody past |
| But Ivan Cepeda, of the National Movement of Victims of Crimes of the State, said there was no reason for the extradition to go ahead so quickly. | But Ivan Cepeda, of the National Movement of Victims of Crimes of the State, said there was no reason for the extradition to go ahead so quickly. |
| "We didn't ask that he not be extradited, just that it be delayed until he could confess to everything." | "We didn't ask that he not be extradited, just that it be delayed until he could confess to everything." |
| Prosecutor Nubia Chavez told the Associated Press news agency that Veloza had acknowledged 480 murders by fighters under his command, but she said hundreds of others remain unsolved. | Prosecutor Nubia Chavez told the Associated Press news agency that Veloza had acknowledged 480 murders by fighters under his command, but she said hundreds of others remain unsolved. |
| "I think he was able to confess to about 50% of his crimes," she said. | "I think he was able to confess to about 50% of his crimes," she said. |
| The BBC's Jeremy McDermott in Colombia says victims' groups believe he was extradited because he knew too much about senior figures who were involved with the paramilitaries. | The BBC's Jeremy McDermott in Colombia says victims' groups believe he was extradited because he knew too much about senior figures who were involved with the paramilitaries. |
| Highly sensitive | Highly sensitive |
| Veloza was a commander with the United Self Defence Forces of Colombia (AUC) - one of several right-wing paramilitary groups formed in the 1980s. | Veloza was a commander with the United Self Defence Forces of Colombia (AUC) - one of several right-wing paramilitary groups formed in the 1980s. |
| They were backed by drug traffickers and wealthy ranchers, who paid them to fight off left-wing guerrillas - particularly the Farc, who were the AUC's fiercest ennemies. | They were backed by drug traffickers and wealthy ranchers, who paid them to fight off left-wing guerrillas - particularly the Farc, who were the AUC's fiercest ennemies. |
| The militias evolved into private armies and are thought to killed thousands of people. | The militias evolved into private armies and are thought to killed thousands of people. |
| Unlike most of his comrades, Veloza gave his full co-operation to prosecutors - and his evidence proved to be highly sensitive. | Unlike most of his comrades, Veloza gave his full co-operation to prosecutors - and his evidence proved to be highly sensitive. |
| Among those he accused of collusion was a retired army officer - Gen Rito Alejo del Rio - who was a close associate of President Alvaro Uribe and is now facing murder charges. | Among those he accused of collusion was a retired army officer - Gen Rito Alejo del Rio - who was a close associate of President Alvaro Uribe and is now facing murder charges. |
| Mr Uribe's government has extradited more than 800 suspects to the US since he came to power in 2002 - most of them on drug-trafficking charges. | Mr Uribe's government has extradited more than 800 suspects to the US since he came to power in 2002 - most of them on drug-trafficking charges. |