Colombia head 'endangers NGOs'

Uribe had harsh words for human rights groups and other NGOs

Human rights activists in Colombia say President Alvaro Uribe is endangering their lives by accusing them of sympathising with terrorism.

On Monday Mr Uribe criticised about 80 organisations who had published a book, The Authoritarian Curse, arguing that he was using excessive force against rebels.

During a speech at a military ceremony, Mr Uribe said some groups played into the hands of terrorists - who he said hide behind human rights issues whenever they felt threatened.

The human rights groups hit back on Tuesday by saying Mr Uribe's comments could now be used to justify any attacks against them.

"Human rights groups are in a very precarious situation following the president's speech," Jorge Rojas, head of the Office for Human Rights and Forced Displacement, told the Associated Press news agency.

'Vindication'

Last year, 17 human rights workers were killed or disappeared, according to the Colombian Commission of Jurists.

Dozens of others fled the country after receiving death threats.

Gloria Cuartas, a member of the Permanent Committee for Human Rights, said the president's refusal to accept criticism has vindicated the report's underlying claim - that he had a penchant for autocratic rule.

Amnesty International, which lent its support to the report, warned in a statement that "intolerance toward criticism leads toward an authoritarian society".

However Mr Uribe - who is leading a campaign to defeat a 39-year Marxist-inspired insurgency - said his government remained committed to respecting human rights.