Colombia gets new World Bank loan

The Colombian Government says the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank have agreed to lend more than $4bn to the country over the next three years.

Speaking in Washington, Finance Minister Roberto Junguito said the new loan packages would help Colombia carry out economic reforms and fund the government's policies to improve education and housing.

The deal follows President George W Bush's backing of Colombia's efforts to get financial support from multinational lenders to help the fight against left-wing rebels and paramilitaries.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service