Bogota mayor defies FARC threat

Officials do not believe soldiers can protect them

The mayor of the Colombian capital, Bogota, Antanas Mockus, has said he will not be deterred by the threats of the left-wing rebel group Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC.

Mr Mockus' comments come after authorities said they had intercepted a threat by the FARC demanding the resignation of Colombian mayors.

This is a real threat against our democratic institutions and against the desire of Colombians to live in freedom

Defence Minister Gustavo Bell

Vice-president and Defence Minister Gustavo Bell said security measures would be tightened to protect officials.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, has urged the Colombian Government to do more to protect human rights activists.

The government is due to announce later on Monday its response to the resignation of more than 100 officials in the north-eastern province of Arauca.

They stepped down on Friday after being told by the FARC to leave.

Authorities say the rebels are trying to carve out strongholds for themselves.

'Undermined'

In a statement, Mrs Robinson expressed concern about the levels of intimidation and violence suffered by those working to improve human rights in Colombia.

Robinson wants to see more done to protect human rights in Colombia

She said most of the violence was carried out by paramilitary groups, but that government officials and members of the security forces were guilty of undermining the work of human rights groups.

This, she said, created a climate in which criminals felt they could act with impunity.

The Colombian army has repeatedly been accused of links to right-wing paramilitary groups who are being held responsible for widespread human rights violations.

Loosening grip

State control in several provinces has been thrown into disarray after the threats to officials by the FARC to quit or be designated "military targets".

Resignations

Antioquia: 23 mayors

Caldas: 3 mayors

Arauca: 97 officials

The national government has promised army support and told mayors not to be intimidated. Another rebel group has said it will kill anyone who does leave their job.

But many local officials have resigned anyway, some saying they have been targeted for supporting President-elect Alvaro Uribe, and all fearful for their lives in Colombia's continuing 38-year civil war.

FARC, which has about 17,000 guerrillas and controls large parts Colombia, killed one of the state's mayor's earlier this month - the eighth civic leader to die this year.