U.S. OFFICIAL HAILS 'PLAN COLOMBIA' A SUCCESS

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador - The commander of the U.S. Southern Command
said Friday that spraying coca and poppy plants in Colombia has been so
successful that drug producers are fleeing elsewhere in Latin America.

"We need to assist Colombia's neighbors so that the criminals aren't
allowed to move around so easily," Gen. Peter Pace, the head of U.S. Latin
American forces, said during a visit to El Salvador's capital.

Last year Washington approved $1.3 billion in largely military aid to
bolster Plan Colombia, a drug eradication program based primarily on
spraying drug crops with herbicides.

Pace said Central America has long been considered a "bridge" for South
American drugs headed to U.S. soil, but that Plan Colombia has put even
more pressure on authorities in Panama, Nicaragua, Guatemala and El Salvador.

"According to our information, approximately two thirds of the drugs that
are produced in South America and sent to the United States pass through
Central America," said Pace, adding that Central America's Pacific coast is
fast becoming a favorite route for drug smugglers.

In July, U.S. authorities announced that they will provide El Salvador with
$3 million in anti-drug aid, consisting primarily of new boats to help El
Salvador's military patrol the country's Pacific coastline.

U.S. Ambassador to El Salvador Rose Likins said Friday that the anti-drug
aid announced last month was El Salvador's share of Plan Colombia funding
earmarked to help other Latin American countries fight drug spill over from
Colombia.