Police foil plot 'to kill Uribe'

Colombian police say they have thwarted a plot by rebels to kill President Alvaro Uribe by attacking his plane.

A spokesman said officers arrested two suspected members of the left-wing Farc group, and took more than 100kg (220lb) of explosives, in raids in Cartagena.

The news comes three days after police in the capital, Bogota, said they found a car bomb they believe was for use in an assassination bid against Mr Uribe.

The president has survived more than 10 attempts on his life.

Highly protected

The spokesman in Cartagena said officers found two homemade mortars and documents describing Mr Uribe's previous visits to the northern city, where he has an official residence.

The BBC's Jeremy McDermott in Colombia says Farc - the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia - has intensified its efforts to kill Mr Uribe, who is seeking to change the constitution so he can be re-elected.

Mr Uribe has led a US-backed campaign to crack down on the country's militia.

Farc leaders do not want another administration supported by the US, committed to launching all-out military offensives against them, our correspondent adds.

The Colombian president is already the most highly protected Latin American leader and his bodyguards have been sent to the US for training.