Protests and high security as Bush visits closest ally Colombia

Mar 11, 2007, 17:35 GMT

Bogota - US President George W Bush was due to arrive in Colombia Sunday amid protests and increased security measures seeing more than 22,000 soldiers and police in the streets of Bogota.

The government of Bush's closest ally President Alvaro Uribe closed the airspace over the capital Bogota as Bush travelled from Uruguay on the latest leg of his visit to Latin America.

Military helicopters were circling over the capital, and the serving of alcohol was prohibited all over the city.

During his six-hour visit, Bush intended to talk with Uribe about the continuation of US aid in the fight against drug growing and about the planned ratification of a free trading agreement. However, Bush's hands are tied on both issues because he depends on the consent of the opposition Democrats.

Other topics for discussion might include the scandal over the involvement of conservative politicians with the infamous paramilitary murder gangs and the abduction of three US citizens by the Marxist rebel group Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

Moreover, Bush was planning to introduce his programme for the promotion of bio-ethanol production, which he had agreed with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on the first stop of his tour Friday.

Unlike thousands of Bush opponents in the sometimes violent protests of recent days, Uribe said: 'We are welcoming Bush with friendship, affection and gratitude.' Uribe urgently depends on further US military and financial aid in his fight against the FARC and drug-related crime.

Since 1999, the US has paid around 4 billion dollars towards the fight against drugs under the so-called 'Plan Colombia.'

However, neither the FARC has been significantly weakened since then, nor has the sprinkling of coca fields from the air reduced cocaine production over the years.

Between 1995 and 2005, the production of cocaine even increased from an estimated 230 tons of cocaine to 640 tons a year, experts say.

Other stops on Bush's Latin America tour are to include Guatemala and Mexico.