Colombia fires prosecutor in paramilitary probe

[Judi Lynn]

Colombia fires prosecutor in paramilitary probe

The Associated Press
Thursday, August 21, 2008

BOGOTA, Colombia: Colombian authorities say they have fired a senior regional prosecutor for alleged ties with drug running, right-wing paramilitaries.

Deposed prosecutor Guillermo Valencia is the brother of Colombia's newly named interior minister.

Valencia was fired Thursday after a report appeared in the Colombian newsmagazine Cambio detailing dozens of conversations he allegedly had with paramilitaries in Medellin.

Valencia denied the accusations in a conversation with The Associated Press. He confirms being under investigation by the Supreme Court.

Cambio magazine says it obtained some 120 recordings of Valencia that make it clear the prosecutor knew the fugitive paramilitary leader and drug trafficker Daniel Rendon.

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/08/21/america/LA-Colombia-Paramilitaries.php