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Politicians gunned down

Two more candidates were killed in Colombia on Tuesday before nationwide local elections this weekend, shot by suspected leftist guerrillas as they campaigned in a rural hamlet.

At least 21 people running for posts as governors, mayors and members of local assemblies have been murdered during the campaign for the election. The government and election observers differ on the exact number of killings, with El Tiempo newspaper putting the number at 29.

President Alvaro Uribe blames most of the violence on the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) the largest rebel group in a four-decade conflict.

Gunmen opened fire on mayoral candidate Gratiniano Murcia and assembly candidate Carmen Liliana Polania as they left a meeting in Caqueta Province, where leftist rebels have traditionally had a strong presence.

"Police urged them against going to that area," Interior Minister Carlos Holguin said. "There are still investigations underway but we believe this is the FARC."

Aided by billions of dollars in US aid, Uribe has helped to curb Latin America's longest guerrilla conflict, fueled in part by the cocaine trade. Killings, bombings and kidnappings have dropped off sharply.

Shocked by the killings, Uribe announced a US$25,000 reward for any information leading to the arrest of the "terrorists."

On Sunday, Colombians will vote to fill some 15,000 regional offices, including governors, mayors and regional assembly members.
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