COLOMBIA: COLOMBIAN ARMED FORCES LAUNCH MASSIVE SECURITY OPERATION AHEAD OF VISIT BY U.S. PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH

Record ID: 588522

  • Title: COLOMBIA: COLOMBIAN ARMED FORCES LAUNCH MASSIVE SECURITY OPERATION AHEAD OF VISIT BY U.S. PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH
  • Date: 21st November 2004
  • Summary: (U6)CARTAGENA, COLOMBIA (NOVEMBER 21, 2004) (REUTERS) 1. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE ON BEACH (2 SHOTS) 0.10 2. TILT: COLOMBIAN AIRFORCE JET FLYING OVER BEACH 0.11 3. GV: NAVY SHIP OFF SHORE 0.16 4. VARIOUS OF SECURITY OFFICER ON ROOF (2 SHOTS) 0.21 5. HELICOPTER FLYING OVER CITY 0.23 6. VARIOUS OF SECURITY CHECKPOINTS; PEOPLE BEING SEARCHED (7 SHOTS) 0.51 7. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) COMMANDER OF NAVAL SPECIAL FORCES, GENERAL FERNANDO ROMAN, SAYING: "A force of about 15,000 men from the army, navy, air force, national police, secret police has been brought together in a joint operation to guarantee the land and maritime security." 1.08 8. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING DOWN STREET (2 SHOTS) 1.18 9. VARIOUS OF SECURITY ON STREET (3 SHOTS) 1.29 10. VARIOUS OF SNIPER ON ROOF (2 SHOTS) 1.39 11. VARIOUS OF SECURITY ON STREET (3 SHOTS) 1.53 12. VARIOUS OF TRAINING SECURITY OPERATION OFF SHORE (5 SHOTS) 2.18 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 6th December 2004 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: CARTAGENA, COLOMBIA
  • Country: Colombia
  • Reuters ID: LVAE74T7R0LY06R35DM1QYJ7QEEB
  • Story Text: Colombia tightens security ahead of visit by United
    States President George W. Bush.


    By land, air, and sea 15,000 members of the
    Colombian armed forces launched a massive security
    operation on Sunday (November 21) to protect United States
    President George W. Bush during his four-hour visit to
    Cartagena on Monday (November 22).

    Police, soldiers, sailors, pilots and secret agents
    with support from the United States Secret Service
    initiated strict security measures throughout this historic
    Caribbean city.

    Colombia suffers from a four-decades-old civil war that
    pits the government against leftist rebels and far-right
    paramilitary groups financed by the drug trade. Washington
    lists these groups as terrorist organisations.

    This is the first time Bush, who was recently
    reelected, travels to Colombia. It is the first visit by a
    U.S. president since Bill Clinton in 2000.

    The leftist rebels from the Revolutionary Armed Forces
    of Colombia (FARC) and the smaller National Liberation Army
    (ELN) have consistently criticised the policies of the
    United States whom they call "imperialists" and they accuse
    of interfering in Colombia's internal conflict.

    Unions, students, and leftist political groups are
    expected to protest against Bush's visit and U.S. policies
    in Colombia.

    Bush is expected to discuss narco trafficking,
    terrorism and free trade with Colombian President Alvaro
    Uribe.

    The United States has supported Colombia's fight
    against the drug trade since 2000 with Plan Colombia in
    which the U.S. has provided more than 2-billion dollars in
    equipment, aid, and training. Uribe is expected to ask
    Bush to renew plan Colombia after it expires in 2006.


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