Colombian president seeks drug law reform

Colombian President Alvaro Uribe says he wants to over-turn the country's current drugs laws which allow people to possess small amounts of narcotics for personal use.

He said that outlawing possession of drugs was the best way to prevent young people from taking them.

Colombian law allows people to carry 20g of marijuana, 5g of hashish and 1g of cocaine.

Mr Uribe also said he would instruct police to enforce laws prohibiting drug-taking in public places or in front of children.

Government statistics show that 12% of young people aged between 10 and 24 are regular drug users.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service