Bush thanks Colombia for drug aid

US President George W Bush has thanked Colombia's President Alvaro Uribe for his support in the anti-drugs war.

Mr Bush was in Colombia's capital, Bogota, for a six-hour visit as part of his five-nation Latin American tour.

Nearby, at least 25 people were arrested as riot police using tear gas clashed with demonstrators protesting against Mr Bush's visit.

The visit is overshadowed by a scandal about alleged links between Mr Uribe's allies and right-wing paramilitaries.

Death-squad denial

President Uribe denied any ties between members of his government and the death squads at a joint press conference with Mr Bush on Sunday.

"If there are members of this government that have links to these guerrillas they will immediately be removed from their offices," he said.

Colombia is one of the largest recipients of US aid to help fight a long-running war against left-wing guerrillas and drug traffickers.

Some US Democrats are questioning a White House request for $3.9bn in new aid over the next seven years as well as the wisdom of a US trade deal with Colombia.

Since 2000, Colombia has received billions of dollars of US funds and military hardware.

Security tight

Last week, Mr Bush defended the $700m-a-year aid programme and expressed his determination to press for congressional approval of free trade agreements signed with Colombia and Peru.

There have been concerns that guerrillas might try to disrupt the meeting between Mr Bush and Mr Uribe by launching fresh attacks.

Colombian authorities deployed 21,000 troops in addition to 7,000 police who will be responsible for security during Mr Bush's visit.

President Bush is in Colombia for a few hours, before heading for Guatemala later on Sunday. He has already visited Brazil and Uruguay.

Venezuela President Hugo Chavez is on a tour of Latin America at the same time.

On Saturday during a visit to Bolivia, he launched a stinging attack on the US.

Mr Chavez described capitalism as "the road to hell". He underlined the billions of dollars of aid Venezuela is ploughing into Bolivia's economy at a time when the US is reducing its contributions.

President Bush has avoided discussing his rival's regional trip during his own visit to promote trade.

Mr Bush's presence in Latin American states has been met with protests and marches, some of which have turned violent.

About 150 protesters clashed with riot police in Bogota after Mr Bush landed on Sunday, with at least 25 arrested.

About 20 people were arrested in the Uruguayan capital Montevideo on Friday after an estimated 6,000 people took to the streets.

On Saturday, Mr Bush avoided the crowds by meeting the president at his rural retreat some 125 miles (200km) west of the capital.

Mr Chavez, meanwhile, travels on to Nicaragua.