Leader of Colombia's major party arrested for alleged paramilitary ties

BOGOTA, July 25 (Xinhua) -- Carlos Garcia, leader of Colombia's major ruling party, was arrested Friday for alleged ties with far-right paramilitary groups, the chief prosecutor's office said. Garcia, president of the National Unity Party holding the most seats in the Senate, was arrested in the city of Santa Marta. A major ally of President Alvaro Uribe, Garcia has been making efforts to conduct a referendum that will allow Uribe to run for a third consecutive term in 2010. Garcia was accused of having contacts with the United Self-defense Forces of Colombia (AUC), whose arrested leaders confessed their relations with Garcia. But he has vehemently denied allegations of ties with paramilitary groups, which prosecutors say occurred in his home province of Tolima... [read full story]