COLOMBIA PRESIDENT WON'T STEP DOWN

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) -- Colombia's president pledged Monday to remain in
office until his term ends in August, backpedaling on earlier remarks
suggesting he might resign to improve relations with the United States.

Scandal-plagued President Ernesto Samper told reporters that a statement
issued by his press office over the weekend was misunderstood. He defended
his country's efforts to thwart the drug trade, arguing that his
resignation would do nothing to stem the flow of drugs from the world's
largest cocaine producer.

``I said that that if (cutting off) my head would solve the world's drug
problem, I would be willing to do it,'' Samper told the Hora Cero news
program on Sunday. ``But so that my enemies don't get any illusions, my
head is not on the table.'' Relations with the United States have been
strained since evidence emerged that Samper won office in 1994 with $6.1
million in contributions from the Cali cocaine cartel. Despite testimony
against him by top campaign leaders, Samper was absolved of wrongdoing by a
loyalist Congress.

U.S. officials have said openly they think Samper took the money.

On Saturday, Samper appeared to raise the possibility he might leave office
early during a speech in the port of Barranquilla.

``If my leaving office contributes to improved relations with the United
States and if the reality of Colombia's achievements these past three years
against drug trafficking were truly understood, I would be prepared to make
that contribution,'' he said.

The United States will decide on Friday whether to certify Colombia as an
ally in the war against drugs. Colombia has been denied that distinction in
the past and stripped of millions of dollars in aid.