Ambassador says Bush won't change policy

FORMERLY BUSH COLOMBIA The Colombian ambassador in London, Victor Ricardo, says the government in Colombia is intent on fighting right-wing paramilitary groups, but admitted it had to do more.

Mr Ricardo also told the BBC that he didn't expect the US President-elect, George W Bush, to revise policy towards Colombia because of concern over human rights abuses.

He said the current policy was approved by the US congress and includes the issue of combatting human right's violations.

On Tuesday, a United States Senator Paul Wellstone, alleged widespread collaboration between the Colombian armed forces and right-wing paramilitaries and said Washington should not be funding military aid to the country. In future, he said, aid should be made conditional on guarantees that such links were being cut.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service