Uribe orders probe of drug ties to politics

[Judi Lynn]

Uribe orders probe of drug ties to politics

Monday, January 16, 2006; Posted: 2:25 p.m. EST (19:25 GMT)
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) -- Colombia's president Monday ordered an investigation into congressional campaign financing amid repeated allegations that paramilitary groups have infiltrated the electoral process with drug money.

The president's office said Uribe has asked the attorney general to launch an investigation into "dubious and sizable financing of some congressional campaigns."

U.S. Ambassador William Wood, echoing charges made by opposition lawmakers, warned last month that paramilitary groups may be corrupting the March 12 elections through bribery, threats and possibly even murder.

Uribe took issue with the envoy's allegation at the time, accusing Wood of "meddling" in Colombia's internal affairs.
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http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/americas/01/16/colombia.campaign.ap/index.html

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Uribe and his friend.