COLOMBIA OKS EXTRADITION OF EX-SENATOR

BOGOTA, Colombia -- President Alvaro Uribe authorized the extradition
of a former Colombian senator to face drug trafficking charges in the
United States, the president's office said Tuesday.

Samuel Lopesierra was captured in October with 14 other people accused
of sending tons of cocaine to the United States and having ties to
outlawed paramilitary groups.

During a two-year investigation, authorities in Colombia and the
United States seized more than 27 tons of cocaine from the group,
which Lopesierra headed, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement
Administration.

Lopesierra, a former senator of the northern state of La Guajira, was
indicted in Washington. He will be sent to the United States within a
week, according to the U.S. Embassy.

Top leaders of the right-wing paramilitary groups also have been
indicted in the United States on drug trafficking charges.

The right-wing militia, as well as their leftist rebel foes, both use
drug trafficking to finance their battles in Colombia's 39-year civil
war.