|
Official: Colombian rebels sought Bush assassination
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-11-28 10:17
Colombia's main rebel group asked followers to mount an assassination attempt
against US President Bush during his visit to Colombia last week, Colombian
Defense Minister Jorge Uribe said. There was no evidence Saturday that rebels
even tried to organize such an attack.
Uribe told reporters late Friday that informants said the Revolutionary Armed
Forces of Colombia, known as the FARC, told followers to attack Bush during his
four-hour visit in the seaside city of Cartagena last Monday, where he met with
Colombian President Alvaro Uribe.
The defense minister, who is no relation to the president, said security
forces were on full alert during the visit. About 15,000 Colombian troops and
police, along with U.S. troops and Secret Service agents provided security.
There was no indication Bush's life was ever in danger.
Uribe did not say where the informants had heard about the purported order to
attack Bush.
The Secret Service did not comment on security details, as is its policy.
"We have full confidence in the fine work of the Secret Service and their
work with security officials on the ground when the President travels," White
House spokesman Jim Morrell said Saturday.
The FARC has declared U.S. troops in Colombia military targets. The troops
are training local forces and providing logistics and planning assistance for
military operations against the rebels.
However, the rebels never publicly declared Bush a target during his
first-ever visit as president to Colombia. Bush visited Colombia after attending
a summit in Chile.
| |
 |
|
|
|
|
Today's
Top News |
|
|
|
Top World
News |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
