COLOMBIA CANCELS VOTE ON BILL FOR EARLY RELEASE OF PRISONERS

BOGOTA, Colombia -- Colombia's Congress scrapped a planned vote on a
bill to free prisoners early to mark the new millennium after
lawmakers received anonymous death threats Tuesday.

Local media said a previously unknown group, "Pro-Prisoner Militias"
had sent the threats to senators to pressure them to vote in favor of
the measure which could cut some terms by up to 40 percent.

The lawmakers, however, said they did not know who was behind the
messages.

"It's difficult to say (who the threats came from). But Congress
cannot work under these conditions," said opposition Liberal Party
Sen. German Vargas.

"These threats are contributing little to the situation," said ruling
Conservative Party Congressman Carlos Holguin.

Justice Minister Romulo Gonzalez sent a letter to Congress urging it
to suspend passage of the bill because of "blackmail and pressure."

He cited a weekend protest by more than 1,500 women and children, the
relatives of inmates in six jails around the country, who refused to
leave after regular visiting hours.

Colombia's 165 prisons were built for about 32,000 people but
currently house more than 47,000.