UN BOARD QUESTIONS COLOMBIAN MEMBER

UNITED NATIONS (AP) -- Colombia's federal prosecutor, who once defended a
top official implicated in his nation's biggest drug scandal, has refused
to resign from a U.N. board set up to combat narcotics trafficking, sources
said Wednesday.

U.N. officials cite a possible conflict of interest as long as Alfonso
Gomez Mendez wears the two hats of federal prosecutor and board member.

Gomez was elected in 1996 to a five-year term on the International
Narcotics Control Board -- one of the most influential and secretive U.N.
organizations.

Soon after he began sitting on the board last year, Gomez was appointed
Colombia's federal prosecutor, replacing Alfonso Valdivieso, an anti-drug
crusader whose investigation nearly toppled President Ernesto Samper.

The 1961 treaty establishing the U.N. board states that members ``shall not
hold any position'' which would ``impair their impartiality.'' That clause
has generally been invoked to bar entry anyone holding national posts in
their home governments.

Sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the board president,
Hamid Ghodse asked Gomez to step down shortly after he became federal
prosecutor in July. Gomez then refused and Ghodse referred the matter to
the U.N. legal office

In a January 6 letter, the chief U.N. legal officer, Hans Corell, said ``it
would appear'' that holding the prosecutor's post would constitute a
conflict of interest.

Corell recommended the issue be put before the board at its meeting late
this month in Vienna. Nine of the 13 board members would have to agree to
dismiss Gomez.

Before assuming the prosecutor's job, Gomez successfully defended Rodrigo
Pardo, a former foreign minister suspected of helping cover up evidence of
drug money donations to Samper's campaign.

After taking office as federal prosecutor, Gomez split up the investigative
team that had put more than a dozen congressmen, a former attorney general
and the comptroller in prison for taking money from Cali cartel drug
traffickers.

Gomez has denied sabotaging any cases to protect Samper and says he has
stepped up the investigations.

The U.N. board works with governments to determine what drugs should be
declared illegal. It also helps regulate ``precursors'' -- chemicals which
are not banned but can be used to manufacture illicit drugs.

Checked-by: Richard Lake