US ex-VP Al Gore cancels appearance with Colombia's Uribe

MIAMI, United States (AFP) — Former US vice president Al Gore on Friday canceled planned meetings with Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, amid mounting allegations officials close to the South American leader had links with right-wing paramilitary squads.

Gore's spokesman Kalee Kreider said the former vice president and 2000 presidential candidate had canceled his scheduled appearance at a Miami forum Friday, where he was to be introduced by Uribe.

Officials in Bogota said Gore also called off a planned September visit to Colombia, Washington's closest ally in Latin America.

Kreider said that Uribe had not been scheduled to attend the Miami event at the time Gore accepted to address the forum.

But he also stressed that the claims that emerged in recent days in Colombia "are deeply troubling."

Uribe, who has repeatedly denied past links with paramilitary leaders, said he hoped Gore "will closely examine the situation in Colombia."

The mounting scandal has also led US lawmakers to block 55 million dollars in military aid Continue reading the remaining 50% ...