U.S. DEAL HELPS COLOMBIA FIGHT DRUGS

CARTAGENA, Colombia -- The United States signed an accord with Colombia on
Tuesday, pledging more U.S. training and equipment for a 1,000-man army
battalion to be established by next June. The unit's sole function will be
to assist police in anti-narcotics operations.

The agreement also created a bilateral working group to discuss U.S.
military aid options. U.S. aid to Colombia's security forces is currently
about $100 million a year, most of which goes to the Colombian police and
is classified as counter-narcotics.

Checked-by: Mike Gogulski