Colombia defence chief resigns

BOGOTA - Colombia's defence minister has resigned after congressional grumbling over his efforts to fight a 41-year-old United States-backed war, with a spokesman citing personal reasons.

Jorge Alberto Uribe, 64, had faced complaints in Congress over his performance, even though government statistics show big drops in violence and kidnapping linked to the country's guerrilla war during his tenure.

He will be replaced by Camilo Ospina, a lawyer who now serves as the government's judicial secretary, the government said.

Uribe, no relation of President Alvaro Uribe, survived a recent congressional vote of no confidence and was criticized earlier this year by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez after he expressed concern about arms purchases by Colombia's neighbour.

Last year, he faced public attacks after news he made a private visit to a woman held in jail accused of drug trafficking.

"I go satisfied with the knowledge that Colombia's armed forces are united behind the single objective of achieving peace," Uribe told reporters.

A spokesman said Uribe was leaving for personal reasons.

The minister, a businessman without prior political experience, took on the post in November 2003. His predecessor, Marta Lucia Ramirez, resigned after fighting with military commanders over issues including procurement procedures.

Uribe has made the war against Marxist rebels a focus of his government, and the resulting fall in guerrilla violence in and around the country's major cities has brought him a 70 per cent popularity rating.

But a military offensive in the country's southern jungles has not succeeded in dealing heavy blows against the estimated 13,000 fighters of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, known by the Spanish initials Farc, analysts say.

The United States has provided more than US$3 billion ($4.5 billion) in mainly military aid to Colombia since 2000 to help fight the rebels and clamp down on the country's cocaine industry - the world's largest - which provides funds to both the Farc and far-right paramilitaries.

- REUTERS