Colombia's upcoming regional elections
21 poll candidates killed in Colombia
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
BOGOTA: Two more candidates in Colombia's upcoming regional elections were shot dead yesterday during a political rally in southern Colombia, raising the death toll in the campaign to at least 21.
Police in Caqueta department said gunmen opened fire on regional assembly candidate Liliana Polania and Cartagena mayoral candidate Gratiniano Murcia as they were about to address the rally in the city of El Diamante.
Local authorities have not identified the murderers but believe the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) were to blame, as the leftist rebel movement is active in the southern region.
Officials say 21 candidates have been killed so far in the election campaign, while El Tiempo newspaper puts the number at 29.
Shocked by the killings, President Alvaro Uribe on Saturday announced a $25,000 reward for any information leading to the arrest of the “terrorists” behind the murders of candidates to the October 28 elections.
On Sunday, Colombians will vote to fill about 15,000 regional offices, including governors, mayors, regional assembly members and municipal officials.
In the 2003 regional elections, a total of 29 candidates were killed and 16 were kidnapped across Colombia.
