RELIGIOUS LEADERS WANT BUSH TO DROP DRUG PLAN

Prominent Latin American religious leaders have joined more than 100 civic,
political and intellectual figures from the region to call on President
Bush to suspend Plan Colombia, the U.S.-funded anti-drug initiative, and
place more emphasis on peace initiatives.

In a Monday letter to Bush, the leaders said Plan Colombia, which increases
U.S. support for the that country's military to curb the drug trade, is
militarizing the long-standing conflict in the South American nation.

The leaders, who include retired Bishop Samuel Ruiz, the former bishop in
Chiapas, Mexico, and Cardinal Paulo Evaristo Arns, archbishop emeritus of
Sao Paulo, Brazil, said they believe Plan Colombia's "predominantly
military emphasis" will only intensify the internal conflict and undermine
the peace process.