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Colombia arrests more politicians Colombia arrests more politicians
(about 2 hours later)
Colombia's highest court has ordered the arrest of five congressmen over alleged links with right-wing militias.Colombia's highest court has ordered the arrest of five congressmen over alleged links with right-wing militias.
A sixth, congresswoman Eleonora Pineda, was arrested on Monday in the capital Bogota, the authorities said. A further 15 other politicians, former representatives and business figures were also being sought, officials said.
The congressmen are supporters of Colombian President Alvaro Uribe's governing coalition. The wanted politicians are all supporters of President Alvaro Uribe's governing coalition, and are among 14 facing probes over paramilitary links.
They are among 14 congressmen and senators being investigated over allegations of benefiting from close ties to paramilitary groups. At least three of the congressmen have been arrested or have handed themselves in, authorities said.
Distancing act
At least three of the wanted congressmen have been arrested or have handed themselves in to the authorities.
They are all alleged to have signed a pact with paramilitary leaders of the United Self-Defence Forces of Colombia (AUC) in 2001, reports said.They are all alleged to have signed a pact with paramilitary leaders of the United Self-Defence Forces of Colombia (AUC) in 2001, reports said.
An ex-congresswoman, Eleonora Pineda, was arrested on Monday in the capital Bogota, reports said.
Distance
The scandal has rocked Mr Uribe's government, and he has been quick to distance himself from any links between the government and death squads.The scandal has rocked Mr Uribe's government, and he has been quick to distance himself from any links between the government and death squads.
If members of the government appear to have links with the paramilitaries, they will be immediately removed from office Alvaro UribeColombia president
However, the BBC's Jeremy McDermott, in Bogota, says the president insists his peace process with the paramilitary United Self-Defence Forces of Colombia allowed details of links with politicians to be revealed.
"If members of the government appear to have links with the paramilitaries, they will be immediately removed from office," he said in March."If members of the government appear to have links with the paramilitaries, they will be immediately removed from office," he said in March.
Last week, Vice President Francisco Santos said many as 30 members of the country's Congress could end up in jail because of their links to the scandal. Last week, Vice-President Francisco Santos said many as 30 members of the country's Congress could end up in jail because of their links to the scandal.
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.
The US state department branded the militias, including the AUC, as foreign terrorist organizations in 2001.The US state department branded the militias, including the AUC, as foreign terrorist organizations in 2001.