MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

US donates drug control aircrafts to Peru

Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo said Friday that United States had donated two aircrafts to help fight drug trafficking.

Donations coincided with Thursday's visit to Peru by U.S. Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, who met with President Toledo and Defence Minister Marciano Rengifo

US Secretary of Defence made a brief trip to South America visiting Paraguay and Peru.

Mr. Toledo told the press in Lima they discussed the need to "bolster the fight against drug trafficking", adding that United States made "a donation of two C-26 aircraft" that presumably will be used in the resumption of monitoring interdiction flights.

"I think we need a greater effort, more creativity and a joint strategy to confront drug trafficking, which is linked to terrorism" Toledo said.

Rumsfeld's visit was "extraordinarily productive" because we examined the situation of Peru and Latin America with regard to democratic stability, governance and prospects for economic growth, president Toledo told Radio Programas del Peru.

Regarding the free-trade talks that Colombia, Ecuador and Peru are holding with United States, Mr. Toledo said it was time to take the political steps needed to reach an agreement.

Mr. Rumfeld's visit has been linked to Washington's increasing concern with Venezuelan "interference" it neighbouring countries affairs. US officials have accused President Hugo Chavez regime of sympathizing with Marxist Colombian guerrillas that grant protection to the drug business; supporting de-stabilizing nationalistic movements in hot spots such as Bolivia and Ecuador plus "buying" influence from energy short countries in South America and the Caribbean.

The Bush administration is also concerned with the close links between President Chavez and the Fidel Castro regime.