COLOMBIA'S PRESIDENT CRITICIZES U.S. HOUSE BILL

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) - President Andres Pastrana suggested Sunday that a
bill passed by the U.S. House to place conditions on anti-drug aid to
Colombia could damage the government's efforts to launch peace talks with
rebels.

An amendment to the House bill passed last week stipulated that aid would be
suspended if Colombia halts the aerial spraying of herbicides over a
southern swath of the country. The Senate has yet to consider the amendment.

About 14 per cent of Colombia's coca crop, which is used to make cocaine, is
located in the 160-square-mile zone. Pastrana has agreed to demilitarize the
area by Nov. 7 to facilitate talks with the country's largest guerrilla
group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia.

Pastrana said he wants to introduce crop substitution programs rather than
exclusively attacking cocaine producers' crops with spray. He is scheduled
to meet with members of Congress in Washington on Thursday to explain his
intentions.

Checked-by: Rolf Ernst