MOWLAM CRITICISES COLOMBIA CASH AID

Mo Mowlam has left a dent in US-backed plans for an intensified military campaign against the Colombian cocaine industry. She gave a warning after a four-day visit that Colombia needs to make human rights improvements before Europe can be confident enough to contribute.

"For us to feel easy about putting more money in social and economic programmes, we need to see more progress," said Dr Mowlam, the Cabinet Office Minister, who led a British fact-finding mission.

Dr Mowlam's remarks were a bitter disappointment to Colombia's cash-strapped Government, which is counting on heavy European funding for a proposed $7.5 billion (?5.3 billion) counter-drug offensive. While America has already committed $1.3 billion in mostly military aid, Colombia is counting on Europe to help to fund alternative development projects to wean peasant farmers away from growing coca plants.

A senior adviser to President Pastrana said that it would be hard to make progress in the war on drugs without a commitment from Europe. Colombian officials note that although most of the cocaine and heroin produced in their country ends up in the US, increaing quantities are being smuggled to Europe.

Dr Mowlam was also critical of a recent decision by President Clinton to approve huge funding for Colombia's military, despite that country's failure to meet human rights conditions required by Congress.