DATE=11/11/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=COLOMBIA EXPLOSION(L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-256067
BYLINE=STEVE DUDLEY
DATELINE=BOGOTA
INTERNET=YES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A powerful car bomb exploded in the northern
part of Bogota Thursday leaving seven dead and over 40
people injured. The explosion comes just two days
after another bomb went off in the western part of the
city injuring another nine people. Both bombs revived
fears that the possible extradition of several
suspected drug traffickers to the United States may
lead to a terror campaign reminiscent of the Pablo
Escobar days. From Bogota, Steven Dudley reports.
Text : The 80 kilograms car bomb tore through several
cars, a liquor store, a two-story house, and various
buildings. The explosion occurred in a posh section of
Bogota. But there are no government buildings in the
vicinity. And the lack of any clear targets and timing
of the bombs leads many to suspect that drug
traffickers were behind this week's bombs.
During the last three weeks, Colombia's supreme court
gave the go-ahead to extradite to the United States
three suspected drug traffickers, the first such
rulings in nine years.
And political analysts say the bombings appear to have
been an attempt to keep President Andres Pastrana from
signing a series of extradition orders.
In spite of the pressures, President Pastrana signed
the first orders today (Thursday) legalizing the
extradition of the three suspected traffickers. Other
extradition orders are expected to appear on the
President's desk in the very near future.
One of these orders may involve Fabio Ochoa, a
founding member of Medellin cartel. It was the
Medellina cartel that led a full scale terrorist
campaign against extradition in the late 1980's and
early 90's.
During that time,hundreds of policemen were killed
along with several judges. The cartel also placed
bombs in indiscriminate locations throughout Bogota.
(Signed)
NEB/PT
11-Nov-1999 22:23 PM EDT (12-Nov-1999 0323 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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