Lawyer: Colombia leader's cousin seeks political asylum
An attorney says a cousin of Colombia's president who is wanted for alleged paramilitary ties is in the Costa Rican Embassy in Bogota requesting political asylum. The lawyer, Jose del Carmen Ortega, tells The Associated Press that his client Mario Uribe entered the embassy Tuesday morning. Colombia's chief prosecutor has announced an arrest warrant for the ex-senator. Uribe is accused of promoting illegal right-wing militias. Mario Uribe has long been the closest political ally of President Alvaro Uribe. The two are second cousins. The prosecutor's office said in a terse statement that it was investigating a meeting between Mario Uribe and former paramilitary leader Salvatore Mancuso before the 2002 congressional elections. More than 30 current or former members of Congress have been arrested for allegedly backing and benefiting from the illegal right-wing bands formed to protect the wealthy from Colombia's guerrilla war. |
