Uribe in Colombia diplomats' row

Ernesto Samper: Controversial figure

Colombian President Alvaro Uribe has provoked upheaval in his country's diplomatic ranks by nominating Ernesto Samper as the new ambassador to France.

Colombia's ambassador to the US, Andres Pastrana, quit suddenly saying he could not defend Mr Samper's appointment.

Mr Samper, president from 1994 to 98, had his US visa revoked in the 1990s over alleged ties to drug traffickers.

He has now withdrawn his candidacy for the Paris post, forcing Mr Uribe to reshuffle the top diplomatic jobs.

Mr Pastrana, himself president from 1998 to 2002, said Mr Uribe's support for Mr Samper left him with no choice but to resign.

"This changes Colombia's policy and it changes it radically," Mr Pastrana said after several hours of talks with officials in Bogota.

Andres Pastrana said he had no choice but to resign

A statement from the presidency said it "deplored" Mr Pastrana's resignation.

It was then announced that Mr Samper had turned down the Paris job, "considering the higher interests of the country".

The announcement that Mr Samper had been put forward for the post sparked anger among many Colombians and in US government ranks, correspondents say.

They say President Uribe, who begins his second term next month, was aiming to secure support from members of Mr Samper's Liberal party in Congress.

The Cali drug cartel donated $5m to Mr Samper's election campaign in 1994 when he defeated Mr Pastrana.

Mr Samper was cleared of wrongdoing after saying the donation had been made without his knowledge.

But amid the controversy, Washington revoked his visa to enter the US.

Foreign Minister Carolina Barco will now take up the Washington post, while Maria Angela Holguin, currently UN ambassador, will be the envoy in Paris.