COLOMBIAN DRUG SPRAYINGS CONTINUE

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) -- Colombian police said Saturday that it would
continue to spray drug crops using the chemical glyphosate, despite a
court-ordered suspension, while the government responds to legal questions.

Gen. Gustavo Socha, chief of the anti-narcotics police, said planes would
continue spraying plants used to make cocaine and heroin.

A Colombian court made a preliminary ruling Friday saying fumigations with
glysphosate be temporarily stopped. The court is expected to give a final
verdict within 10 days, following a response to its queries from the
government.

" At this moment, the fumigations will have to continue, " said Socha. "
Once there is a final ruling, we will respect the decision of the court."

The ruling by the Bogota district court came in response to a petition by
an organization representing Colombia' s native Indian communities, who say
the fumigations are poisoning rivers and targeting poor farmers.

Washington is bankrolling the offensive against coca and poppy fields in
Colombia through a $1.3 billion regional anti-drug aid package. The U.S.
Congress is considering additional drug aid for Colombia -- the cocaine
capital of the world and a major supplier of heroin.