MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Killing reinforces Uribe's commitment to democracy

The murder of a sister of one of Colombia's most prominent political figures shocked the presidential election campaign and prompted President Alvaro Uribe to reaffirm his country's commitment to democracy.

President Uribe said Friday that if the killers of former President Cesar Gaviria's sister were looking to disrupt next month's elections they will be hindered by the president's and his countrymen's commitment to defend the rule of law and democracy.

"This is an evil act... that has caused a lot of dismay" said Uribe, but "despite the pain, the government is determined to safeguard all the electoral guarantees". "All Colombians will have a chance to fully exercise their democratic rights" said the president, who is running for re-election next May 28.

The 59-year-old businesswoman Liliana Gaviria died resisting a kidnap attempt. Her brother is the main opposition Liberal Party leader who ruled Colombia as president from 1990-1994 and also served two terms as secretary-general of the Organization of American States.

Five men were purportedly involved in the abduction attempt, which also involved the killing of Gaviria's bodyguard, police officer Jose Fernando Velez Rengifo.

Prosecutors have established that Gaviria was riding in an SUV, driven by Velez, when it was intercepted at the entrance to the condominium where she lived. After killing Velez, the assailants forced her to board the vehicle in which they were riding, which authorities later found abandoned, alongside Gaviria's body, at least two kilometers from where the abduction took place.

Acting Attorney General Jorge Armando Otalora has not ruled out that the gunshot that killed the businesswoman went off accidentally during the struggle between Gaviria and the kidnappers.

"We're involved in an all-out battle against crime" Uribe said before travelling to Pereira to preside over a security meeting and visit the businesswoman's family.

"Every time they kill a Colombian I feel shame" said Uribe, who promised to lead the investigation into the killing "until we can find the perpetrators of this crime" whom he called "terrorists". The capture of the killers has a reward of 420,000 US dollars.