International
Farc leader held on eve of Colombia poll
Farc leader held on eve of Colombia poll
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.