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| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| Bush applauds Colombian support | Bush applauds Colombian support |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| US President George W Bush has thanked Colombia's President Alvaro Uribe for his support in the anti-drugs war. | US President George W Bush has thanked Colombia's President Alvaro Uribe for his support in the anti-drugs war. |
| Mr Bush was in Colombia's capital, Bogota, for a six-hour visit as part of his five-nation Latin American tour. | Mr Bush was in Colombia's capital, Bogota, for a six-hour visit as part of his five-nation Latin American tour. |
| Nearby, at least 25 people were arrested as riot police using tear gas clashed with demonstrators protesting against Mr Bush's visit. | Nearby, at least 25 people were arrested as riot police using tear gas clashed with demonstrators protesting against Mr Bush's visit. |
| Mr Bush praised Mr Uribe's efforts to tackle the country's trade in illegal drugs, much of it destined for the US. | Mr Bush praised Mr Uribe's efforts to tackle the country's trade in illegal drugs, much of it destined for the US. |
| "I appreciate your determination, and I'm proud to call you a personal friend, and to call your country a strategic partner of the United States," Mr Bush told his Colombian counterpart during a news conference. | "I appreciate your determination, and I'm proud to call you a personal friend, and to call your country a strategic partner of the United States," Mr Bush told his Colombian counterpart during a news conference. |
| The visit is overshadowed by a scandal about alleged links between Mr Uribe's allies and right-wing paramilitaries. | The visit is overshadowed by a scandal about alleged links between Mr Uribe's allies and right-wing paramilitaries. |
| Death squad denial | Death squad denial |
| President Uribe denied any ties between members of his government and the death squads at a joint news conference with Mr Bush on Sunday. | President Uribe denied any ties between members of his government and the death squads at a joint news conference with Mr Bush on Sunday. |
| Troops have been deployed to boost police presence in Bogota | Troops have been deployed to boost police presence in Bogota |
| "If members of the government appear to have links with the paramilitaries, they will be immediately removed from office," he said. | |
| Colombia is one of the largest recipients of US aid to help fight a long-running war against left-wing guerrillas and drug traffickers. | Colombia is one of the largest recipients of US aid to help fight a long-running war against left-wing guerrillas and drug traffickers. |
| Some US Democrats are questioning a White House request for $3.9bn in new aid over the next seven years as well as the wisdom of a US trade deal with Colombia. | Some US Democrats are questioning a White House request for $3.9bn in new aid over the next seven years as well as the wisdom of a US trade deal with Colombia. |
| Since 2000, Colombia has received billions of dollars of US funds and military hardware. | Since 2000, Colombia has received billions of dollars of US funds and military hardware. |
| But Mr Bush said that he would press for support of further funding for the country's efforts. | But Mr Bush said that he would press for support of further funding for the country's efforts. |
| "It is going to be very important for our United States Congress to see that determination and I believe that given a fair chance President Uribe can make the case," he said. | "It is going to be very important for our United States Congress to see that determination and I believe that given a fair chance President Uribe can make the case," he said. |
| Security tight | Security tight |
| Last week, Mr Bush defended the $700m-a-year aid programme and expressed his determination to press for congressional approval of free trade agreements signed with Colombia and Peru. | Last week, Mr Bush defended the $700m-a-year aid programme and expressed his determination to press for congressional approval of free trade agreements signed with Colombia and Peru. |
| There have been concerns that guerrillas might try to disrupt the meeting between Mr Bush and Mr Uribe by launching fresh attacks. | There have been concerns that guerrillas might try to disrupt the meeting between Mr Bush and Mr Uribe by launching fresh attacks. |
| Colombian authorities deployed 21,000 troops in addition to 7,000 police who will be responsible for security during Mr Bush's visit. | Colombian authorities deployed 21,000 troops in addition to 7,000 police who will be responsible for security during Mr Bush's visit. |
| President Bush has now continued to Guatemala. He had earlier visited Brazil and Uruguay. | President Bush has now continued to Guatemala. He had earlier visited Brazil and Uruguay. |
| Venezuela President Hugo Chavez is on a tour of Latin America at the same time. | Venezuela President Hugo Chavez is on a tour of Latin America at the same time. |
| On Saturday during a visit to Bolivia, he launched a stinging attack on the US. | On Saturday during a visit to Bolivia, he launched a stinging attack on the US. |
| Mr Chavez described capitalism as "the road to hell". He underlined the billions of dollars of aid Venezuela is ploughing into Bolivia's economy at a time when the US is reducing its contributions. | Mr Chavez described capitalism as "the road to hell". He underlined the billions of dollars of aid Venezuela is ploughing into Bolivia's economy at a time when the US is reducing its contributions. |
| In Managua, on Sunday, he accused the US of interfering in the region. | In Managua, on Sunday, he accused the US of interfering in the region. |
| "The North American empire is trying to snuff out the flame of liberty," Mr Chavez said. | "The North American empire is trying to snuff out the flame of liberty," Mr Chavez said. |
| President Bush has avoided discussing his rival's regional trip during his own visit to promote trade. | President Bush has avoided discussing his rival's regional trip during his own visit to promote trade. |
| Mr Bush's presence in Latin American states has been met with protests and marches, some of which have turned violent. | Mr Bush's presence in Latin American states has been met with protests and marches, some of which have turned violent. |
| About 150 protesters clashed with riot police in Bogota after Mr Bush landed on Sunday, with at least 25 arrested. | About 150 protesters clashed with riot police in Bogota after Mr Bush landed on Sunday, with at least 25 arrested. |
| About 20 people were arrested in the Uruguayan capital Montevideo on Friday after an estimated 6,000 people took to the streets. | About 20 people were arrested in the Uruguayan capital Montevideo on Friday after an estimated 6,000 people took to the streets. |