Leftist Union Patriotica party presidential candidate Aida Avella and her vice-presidential running mate Jahel Quiroga talk to the press in Bogota on Friday during the registration of their candidacy for the May 25 general elections.

 

DPA/Bogota

Attempts to disrupt the Colombian parliamentary elections taking place today have been thwarted by authorities, broadcaster RCN quoted Defence Minister Juan Carlos Pinzon as saying yesterday.

Efforts by FARC leftist guerrillas to perpetrate several bomb attacks in the north-eastern city of Cucuta and the surrounding region were successfully prevented, with one of the organisation’s regional leaders arrested as a result.

The election, set to take place today, sees the country’s three-party coalition led by President Jose Manuel Santos seeking to retain control of both chambers of Congress. Santos is seeking a second term in a presidential poll slated for May 25.

The party of Santos’ conservative predecessor Alvaro Uribe is campaigning on a no-holds-barred fight against Farc. Uribe is seeking a seat in the Senate, from which he aims to challenge the course of negotiations with the insurgent group.