Colombia Grants Asylum to Venezuelan Coup Leader***Dozens of Venezuelans celebrated the decision Sunday outside the darkened Colombian ambassador's residence, waving Venezuelan flags and chanting, "Carmona, friend, the people are with you." Carmona told the Venezuelan television station Venevision by telephone that he felt "profound gratitude" to Colombia. His wife was greeted outside the ambassador's residence Sunday with cheers. "We're very grateful," said Gladys de Carmona.***
Hardliner elected Colombian president*** Of the two leading contenders, Mr Uribe was without doubt the favoured candidate of the United States. His crusade against Colombia's illegal armies, who are funded by drug money, will be supported by US President George W Bush.
The US Ambassador to Colombia, Anne Patterson, went to Mr Uribe's campaign headquarters at a Bogota hotel to congratulate him once the result became clear. "Colombia and the US have many big issues to deal with - drug trafficking, human rights and the fight against terrorism," she said. "We're ready to work with the next government."