News briefs on Colombia

Because there are too many to list separately, here are several links on different news stories regarding Colombia:

* President Alvaro Uribe said he would “release” several imprisoned guerrillas by June 7^th as a gesture “in the national interest”.

* FARC commander Raul Reyes has urged the government of France to push for the release of former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt and three American hostages.

* Despite his differences with Democrats, Uribe will be on hand at a star-studded award gala honoring Bill Clinton next month.

* In a survey carried out by Colombian media outlet RCN, most people were opposed to Uribe’s suggestion of not jailing politicians with ties to paramilitaries.

* Ex-U.S. ambassador to Colombia Anne Patterson was nominated by the White House as the next ambassador to Pakistan.

* The University of Chicago may be the next school to ban all Coca-Cola products from campus due to allegations of labor abuses in Colombia.

* Singer Juanes has been rumored to have separated from his wife, actress Karen Martinez.

Sources (English)- BBC News, Guardian UK, The Latin Americanist, International Herald Tribune, Chicago Maroon, Contactmusic.com

Sources (Spanish)- RCN, El Tiempo

Image- 33ff.com