Bush pushes Colombia trade deal

Mr Bush also gave Colombia backing over recent Farc controversy

US President George W Bush has again urged the US Congress to approve a free trade deal with Colombia.

Mr Bush said approval would be in the interests of both the US economy and its national security.

Democrats, who have a majority in Congress, say backing is unlikely until Colombia makes more progress addressing violence against trade union leaders.

They also want the US to back a package of protection for US workers adversely affected by international trade.

"If you're worried about the economy it seems like you ought to be sending a clear signal that the United States of America will continue to trade, not shut down trade - and that's what this Colombia vote says," Mr Bush said of the proposed deal.

Farc evidence claim

Mr Bush's comments come just after a deadly Colombian raid on a Farc rebel camp in Ecuador this month sparked the worst diplomatic crisis between Colombia and its neighbours in years.

The US president also showed support for Bogota on that issue, repeating accusations that there were close links between the Venezuelan government and the Farc rebel group.

He said computer records found by the Colombian military when it killed senior Farc commander Raul Reyes showed that links between the Venezuelan military and the rebel group were even closer than previously thought.

"Colombian officials are investigating the ties but this much should be clear: the United States strongly supports, strongly stands with Colombia in its fight against the terrorists and drug lords," Mr Bush said.

Credibility issue

The BBC Americas analyst Warren Bull says the US has watched mainly from the sidelines over the past few weeks as the tensions resulting from the raid played out.

But when the Organisation of American States finally agreed a resolution rejecting the Colombian incursion, Washington dissented, saying that Bogota acted legitimately in self-defence.

Our correspondent says that Mr Bush knows that his steadfast support for the Colombian government could lose some credibility if the free trade deal does not go through.

That depends on the Democratic party in Congress, which says Colombia needs to address violence against trade union leaders.

The Democrats also want the US government to do more to protect American workers adversely affected by international trade.

Washington has invested billions of dollars in the fight against drug trafficking and the rebel insurgency in Colombia, but, our correspondent says, Mr Bush knows that his time to influence events in Latin America is fast running out.