Heavy Fighting in Colombia Kills 29

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) - Government forces battled rebels and
right-wing paramilitaries in several locations in heavy fighting that
killed 27 gunmen and two soldiers, the army said Monday.

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Police made the excerpts public after a wave of attacks in the
run-up to Oct. 26 state and mayoral elections has left at least 25
candidates dead, forced dozens of others to flee and dealt a blow
to the nation's attempts to strengthen democracy.

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The violence is an embarrassment for President Alvaro Uribe, who
came to power just over a year ago on pledges of crushing the
insurgency and restoring state authority.

Campo promised to increase police protection for candidates, but
acknowledged difficulties in protecting more than 75,000
contenders in lawless provinces.

Guardian