The American Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright, has praised Colombia's progress in the fight against drugs.

After visiting the Caribbean port of Cartagena, Mrs Albright said she was impressed by what she described as the country's vaillant efforts.

As she was visiting Cartagena amid tight security, left-wing rebels launched an attack on a police station near the capital, Bogota, leaving at least fourteen people dead.

Mrs Albright concluded her visit, with a second meeting with President Andres Pastrana on proposals to end Colombia's long running war against the drug gangs.

As part of the package, two new United States-trained anti-drugs batallions are to be deployed in the main drugs-producing area of the country.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service