Colombian lawmaker unseated for alleged rebel ties

Bogota, Agency
The Colombian Inspector General's Office announced Monday that opposition Sen. Piedad Cordoba is being removed from Congress for "collaborating" with leftist FARC rebels.

Cordoba, who helped broker the unilateral release of 14 prisoners held by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, is also barred from public office for 18 years.

Inspector General Alejandro Ordoñez decided to sanction the senator for having "promoted and collaborated with the outlaw group FARC," his office said in a statement.

The investigation of Cordoba, an Afro-Colombian representing the impoverished northwestern province of Choco, was based on data Colombian officials said they found on laptop computers belonging to FARC No. 2 Raul Reyes, killed in a March 2008 raid.

The probe also drew on testimony from informants and information gleaned from wiretaps, the IG's office said.

The senator overstepped the bounds of mediation by offering advice to the FARC, according to Ordoñez.

Cordoba has steadfastly denied any improprieties in her contacts with the FARC to arrange the release of some of the politicians, police and soldiers the rebels were holding in the hope of trading them for jailed guerrillas.

Leader of a group called Colombians for Peace, the senator was a frequent critic of President Alvaro Uribe, who left office last month after two four-year terms.

Cordoba's attorney, Ciro Quiroz, said after the announcement from the IG's office that he would pursue all legal avenues to overturn the "cruel" and "unprecedented" decision.

"There will be appropriate judicial actions with an eye toward rendering this null and void," the lawyer told Caracol Radio.