BRAVE ANTI-DRUG BISHOP SHOT DEAD

ONLY days after denouncing the influence of drug money on Colombia's
elections, the Archbishop of Cali was shot dead on the steps of a church as
he was leaving a mass wedding.

Msgr Isaias Duarte Cancino (69), was one of the country's most respected
champions of peace and social justice. The Pope said the archbishop had
paid a high price for his opposition to violence.

His death stunned Colombian leaders who paid homage to his career spent in
some of the country's most violent communities.

"This is disgusting, the dirtiest ignominy. This country has no future,"
Cali Mayor John Maro Rodriguez said.

Shortly after 8.30pm on Saturday, Msgr Duarte was leaving the church in the
Aguablanca suburb of Cali.

Witnesses said he was approached by two men who opened fire hitting him in
the chest, head and neck. No one claimed responsibility for the killing.