Colombia: Key Anti-Uribe politico reveals supposed plot to kill him

Leading opposition senator Gustavo Petro (image) claimed that there was an assassination plot against him led by ex-Colombian army colonel Julian Villarte. Petro has been a constant target of death threats due to his strong accusations against paramilitary infiltration in the government. Yet what makes Petro’s claims unique is that Villarte had provided security for U.S. coal company Drummond, which has been accused of hiring paramilitaries to kill labor union leaders. (Sounds like the case against Chiquita, no?)

The “para-politics” scandal in Colombia has deepened over the past few months as evidence mounts against the administration of President Alvaro Uribe.

Links- CNN, Bloomberg, Gannett News Service, The Latin Americanist, The Economist

Image- CNN