Arrest warrant issued for close Uribe associate

[Judi Lynn]

Arrest warrant issued for close Uribe associate
LIBARDO CARDONA, Associated Press
Updated 03:32 p.m., Thursday, February 9, 2012

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Colombia's chief prosecutor issued an arrest warrant Thursday for ex-President Alvaro Uribe's longtime peace commissioner for allegedly choreographing the bogus surrender of a column of leftist guerrillas.

Luis Carlos Restrepo is the third former close associate of Uribe to face criminal charges. The other two, Uribe's former chief of staff and agriculture minister, are in prison in unrelated cases.

~snip~
The case had been under investigation since the end of 2010. Two of the men who participated have said the bogus surrender aimed to show the country that the FARC was broken. They alleged it was funded by a drug trafficker.

Drug trafficking was a key funding source for the right-wing militias known as "paramilitaries" over whose various demobilizations Restrepo presided from 2003-2006.

More:
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/article/Arrest-warrant-issued-for-close-Uribe-associate-3198012.php

[Judi Lynn]

1. Colombia orders ex-peace commissioner Restrepo's arrest

February 2012 Last updated at 17:37 ET
Colombia orders ex-peace commissioner Restrepo's arrest

An arrest warrant has been issued for a former Colombian peace commissioner on suspicion of faking the demobilisation of rebels.

Luis Carlos Restrepo allegedly staged the demobilisation by persuading criminals and unemployed people to pose as Farc rebels and hand themselves in to the authorities.

~snip~

Officials said he had left the country.

Mr Restrepo is the third close ally of the former President Alvaro Uribe to leave the country rather than face criminal charges.

More:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-16975714