U.S. AID TO COLOMBIA ARMY DISCUSSED

BOGOTA, Colombia - The ranking American military commander for
Latin America met with Colombia's defense minister on Monday,
furthering talks on U.S. aid to create a 1,000-member counternarcotics
force.

Gen. Charles Wilhelm, who heads the United States Southern Command,
discussed the planned army unit with Defense Minister Rodrigo Lloreda,
U.S. Ambassador Curtis Kamman told Radionet radio.

Concerned about cocaine and heroin trafficking and the growing
strength of leftist rebels who protect the drug trade, Washington
recently tripled its counternarcotics assistance to Colombia,
approving nearly $300 million in equipment and training this year.

Most of the aid goes to the police, who are no match for better-armed
guerrillas who control vast southern regions where illegal drug plants
are cultivated and processed into cocaine and heroin.

Officials say the planned counternarcotics battalion which Colombian
officials hope will be operating within three months would provide
police with army protection during anti-narcotics operations in the
rebel dominated areas.