WHITE HOUSE URGES MORE COLOMBIAN AID

WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration asked Congress on Thursday for an
additional $29 million to help Colombia combat terrorist kidnappings and
expand the reach of its police to areas previously not under government
control.

The request, on top of hundreds of millions in U.S. anti-drug funds already
flowing to Colombia, also seeks to end restrictions that limit U.S.
military assistance to counter-narcotics activities.

Included in the request is $25 million to provide "critically needed
training and operational assistance for counter-kidnapping training for the
Colombian armed forces and police units."

According to official estimates, about 3,000 Colombians are kidnapped each
year, mostly by illegal armed groups. Most are believed to be carried out
by the leftist FARC and ELN rebel groups. About 120 Americans have been
kidnapped over the past 20 years. Approximately 18 have died or are
believed to have died.

The request also includes $4 million for "police post support" to assist in
establishing civilian authority in areas where the government has not had a
presence.

The new authority being sought would enable the administration to respond
to Colombian requests for assistance in countering illegal insurgencies as
well as drug traffickers. President Bush disclosed last week that he wanted
to broaden U.S. assistance to Colombia.

Colombia's three main insurgencies -- two on the left and one on the right
- -- all are on the State Department's list of foreign terrorist organizations.

The supplemental funds sought by the administration fall under the umbrella
of anti-terroism assistance.

The administration contends that the FARC, the largest of the insurgencies,
has been increasingly resorting to terrorist tactics in its long war
against the Colombian government.

Congress approved $1.3 billion for Colombia in 2000, a multiyear
appropriation mostly for aircraft and training to help the Colombian police
eradicate coca cultivation. As part of that effort, the administration is
seeking more than $400 million for Colombia for the next fiscal year, which
starts in October.