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Rice talks trade on Colombia trip Rice talks trade on Colombia trip
(20 minutes later)
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has been meeting Colombian President Alvaro Uribe at the end of a trip to promote a free trade pact.US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has been meeting Colombian President Alvaro Uribe at the end of a trip to promote a free trade pact.
Earlier, union leaders urged Ms Rice to approve a deal they said would spur greater economic growth in Colombia. President Uribe said the pact was "an important step for there to be more investment in Colombia".
The Democrat-controlled US Congress has so far refused to approve the deal. But the Democrat-controlled US Congress has so far refused to approve the deal.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said the US and Colombia were plotting "military aggression" against his country, but provided no evidence.Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said the US and Colombia were plotting "military aggression" against his country, but provided no evidence.
The Venezuelan leader said that this was the real reason for Ms Rice's visit to Colombia, which he called a "pawn of the North American empire".The Venezuelan leader said that this was the real reason for Ms Rice's visit to Colombia, which he called a "pawn of the North American empire".
Mr Chavez said it would be "very difficult" for Venezuela to normalize relations with Colombia amid diplomatic tensions with Mr Uribe's government.Mr Chavez said it would be "very difficult" for Venezuela to normalize relations with Colombia amid diplomatic tensions with Mr Uribe's government.
'Violent reputation''Violent reputation'
Democratic support in Congress is vital if the President George W Bush's administration is to put the free trade deal into effect. President Uribe said that the international links a trade deal with the US would bring were important for Colombian workers' security.
"The more that the country is integrated with the international community, the more that the rights of workers will be respected, and the greater the opportunities for workers," he said.
"If the country isolates itself and does not advance in matters of trade, it will be harder for workers' rights to be respected."
For US President George W Bush, Democratic support in Congress is vital if the free trade deal is to come into effect.
Colombia is doing the right thing after many years of conflict Condoleezza RiceColombia is doing the right thing after many years of conflict Condoleezza Rice
But the Democrats have so far refused to back the pact, citing concerns about Colombia's human rights record and government officials' alleged links with right-wing militias.But the Democrats have so far refused to back the pact, citing concerns about Colombia's human rights record and government officials' alleged links with right-wing militias.
One member of a group of Democrats from the House of Representatives who travelled with Ms Rice said: "You can't allow that to go unanswered."One member of a group of Democrats from the House of Representatives who travelled with Ms Rice said: "You can't allow that to go unanswered."
"It's not a question of the rightness or wrongness of the free trade agreement," said David Scott of Georgia."It's not a question of the rightness or wrongness of the free trade agreement," said David Scott of Georgia.
"The question is: Can you get the votes in the Congress when you have such a violent reputation?""The question is: Can you get the votes in the Congress when you have such a violent reputation?"
But the White House says Colombia has made great gains in the war on drugs and terrorism.But the White House says Colombia has made great gains in the war on drugs and terrorism.
Earlier, Ms Rice met former left-wing guerrillas and former members of the country's right-wing paramilitary groups who have been reincorporated into society after laying down their weapons.Earlier, Ms Rice met former left-wing guerrillas and former members of the country's right-wing paramilitary groups who have been reincorporated into society after laying down their weapons.
After meeting President Uribe, Mr Rice denied that the US administration is pushing the free trade pact as a way of countering the influence of regional rival Venezuela.After meeting President Uribe, Mr Rice denied that the US administration is pushing the free trade pact as a way of countering the influence of regional rival Venezuela.
"There's no ideological test for our friends," she said."There's no ideological test for our friends," she said.
She said she wanted "to make clear.... that Colombia is doing the right thing after many years of conflict".She said she wanted "to make clear.... that Colombia is doing the right thing after many years of conflict".
However, many US Democrats and trade unionists remain unconvinced, with Jeff Vogt, a global economic policy specialist with the AFL-CIO, speaking of "deep-rooted concerns about continuing violence".However, many US Democrats and trade unionists remain unconvinced, with Jeff Vogt, a global economic policy specialist with the AFL-CIO, speaking of "deep-rooted concerns about continuing violence".
The AFL-CIO is the largest US labour group and a key support of the Democratic Party.The AFL-CIO is the largest US labour group and a key support of the Democratic Party.
The BBC's Jeremy McDermott in Medellin it will remains to be seen whether a US Congress, more interested in the current fight for presidential nominees and this year's elections, will be won over by Ms Rice's arguments.The BBC's Jeremy McDermott in Medellin it will remains to be seen whether a US Congress, more interested in the current fight for presidential nominees and this year's elections, will be won over by Ms Rice's arguments.