FARC denounces Clinton's visit to Colombia

Colombia's largest guerrilla group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, has condemned a planned visit by President Clinton as a violation of Colombian sovereignty.

The brief visit by the President, due to take place at the end of this month, is intended to show solidarity with the Colombian authorities in their war on illegal drugs.

But a FARC spokesman said the trip would be used as an excuse to intervene in the country's internal affairs.

The BBC Washington correspondent says the one-day visit is seen as a significant endorsement of the Colombian president, Andres Pastrana. Last month, the United States Congress approved aid worth one-point-three billion dollars to help equip and train the Colombian security forces in anti-narcotics operations.

But critics say the aid could escalate the fighting between the government and left-wing guerrillas who have links with the cocaine trade.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service