Colombian court denies extradition for rebel accused of kidnapping LA Times journalists

BOGOTA, Colombia - Colombia's Supreme Court has denied a U.S. request to extradite a rebel commander accused of ordering the 12-day kidnapping in 2003 of two journalists on assignment for The Los Angeles Times. Gustavo Anibal Giraldo, alias "Pablo," should be tried in Colombia because the alleged abduction of photographer Scott A. Dalton and writer Alison Ruth Morris occurred here, the court ruled. Giraldo was also wanted in a U.S. indictment unsealed in December for the 15-month kidnapping of a U.S. helicopter mechanic who was working on contract in an oil extraction region. The victim, Matthew Burchell, was freed in August 2000 after a ransom was paid, the court said in its decision, which was issued... [read full story]                    

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