Bogota (Colombia), Aug 18: Suspected rebels fired from the mountains at Colombian President Alvaro Uribe's helicopter as he arrived at a village in northwest Colombia, the president's spokesman said.
No one was injured in yesterday's attack at Granada
village in Antioquia state, said Ricardo Galan, Uribe's
spokesman. None of the shots reached Uribe's helicopter,
which immediately flew out of Granada to a military base in
the nearby town of Rionegro.
A security plane flying nearby fired back into the
mountains. It was not clear whether any of the attackers were
killed, Galan said.
After authorities regained control in Granada, Uribe
returned for his planned event, handing over new homes and
businesses to victims of a rebel attack in December of 2000
that devastated the village and killed 29 residents.
Speaking to Granada residents, Uribe said continuing
violence by the rebels makes negotiations with them
impossible.
"As long as the guerrillas maintain their arrogance,
which stems from rifles, car bombs, and money from coca,
dialogue with them is not possible," Uribe said. "They must
feel that the state is going to defeat them."
Coca is the base ingredient of cocaine.
A nurse's aide at the Granada hospital said she heard
gunshots and an explosion as the president's entourage, which
included environmental minister Cecilia Rodriguez, arrived.
Once Uribe returned, though, she said things were calm.
Bureau Report
