Rice talks trade on Colombia trip

[Omaha Steve]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7210321.stm

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has been meeting Colombian President Alvaro Uribe at the end of a trip to promote a free trade pact.

President Uribe said the pact was "an important step for there to be more investment in Colombia".


The visit is a show of support for the US's closest ally in the region


But the Democrat-controlled US Congress has so far refused to approve the deal.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said the US and Colombia were plotting "military aggression" against his country, but provided no evidence.

The Venezuelan leader said that this was the real reason for Ms Rice's visit to Colombia, which he called a "pawn of the North American empire".

Mr Chavez said it would be "very difficult" for Venezuela to normalize relations with Colombia amid diplomatic tensions with Mr Uribe's government.

'Violent reputation'

President Uribe said that the international links a trade deal with the US would bring were important for Colombian workers' security.

FULL story at link.