The American Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright, has held talks in Colombia on a big new aid package to fight drug traffickers.

She's due to hold a second meeting with President Andres Pastrana later today on proposals to help end Colombia's long running war against the drug gangs.

American officials said the programme included training for more than three thousand Colombian troops and police who will be formed into special anti-narcotics battalions. The US Congress has still to approve the aid package; some members fear Washington is being drawn into Colombia's long-running civil war.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service