Colombian leader criticises attack on presidential candidate

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos on Monday condemned an attack over the weekend on the convoy of a presidential contender in the general elections due in May. The convoy of Aida Avella, the presidential candidate of the leftist Patriotic Union (UP) party, was fired upon by unknown assailants when it was heading for downtown Puerto Jordan, in Tame municipality, northeast Arauca department, Sunday. No one was injured in the attack, which left one vehicle of the convey with bullets. Speaking at an official event in Bogota, the national capital of Colombia, Santos said, "Last night I had the opportunity to call ... Aida to express, on behalf of my government and every Colombian, our solidarity and our condemnation of this unfortunate incident." Santos, who has ordered an investigation into Sunday's attack, also pledged his government will provide Avella and other opposition candidates security during their campaigns.