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WORLD NEWS Friday 9 March 2018

FARC withdraws Timochenko from Colombia's presidential race

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — paigns due to security con-
The political party formed cerns when angry mobs
by Colombia's once-largest hurled eggs and shouted
rebel group withdrew a for- "Murderer!" at Londono.
mer guerrilla commander Leaders also said that hun-
from the race for president dreds of its members have
on Thursday, citing both been killed or jailed and
criticism of the political pro- the group has had to en-
cess and his serious health dure crippling financial re-
problems. strictions. In addition, Lon-
The ex-rebel Rodrigo Lon- dono is recovering from
dono, more commonly coronary bypass surgery
known by his nom-de- performed Wednesday.
guerre Timochenko, won't Doctors diagnosed him
seek the presidency in the with chronic lung disease
May 27 election, leaders of and a clogged artery.
the Common Alternative Some Colombians have
Revolutionary Force said. been reluctant to embrace
The group known as the the peace accord with the
FARC reached a historic FARC following more than
peace deal with the gov- five decades of armed con-
ernment of President Juan flict that left at least 250,000
Manuel Santos in 2016, al- dead, another 60,000 miss- In this 2016 photo, Rodrigo Londono, top leader of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia,
lowing it to start a political ing and more than 7 million smiles during a roundtable with foreign journalists in Bogota, Colombia.
party in exchange for dis- people displaced. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
arming and confessing any The former FARC rebel best
crimes. The campaign has known by his alias Pablo date to replace Londono Sunday's congressional its supporters to cast their
been rocky, despite the Catatumbo said in an in- in the presidential race. elections. "We continue to votes and insisting it remains
accord, FARC leaders said. terview on Caracol Radio The group said, however, struggle for a great nation- committed to ongoing dia-
It had halted its legisla- in Colombia that the group that it will press ahead by al unity," the group said in logue toward "democratic
tive and presidential cam- would not name a candi- keeping its candidates in a statement encouraging peace" and "social justice."

Mexico says Playa del Carmen safe; president to go there

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexi- noting that hotel occu- It said the U.S. consular company. State prosecu- cally deny."
can officials said late pancy at the resort was 80 agency there "will be tors say the ferry incidents The area has also been hit,
Wednesday that the Ca- percent. "We do not know closed until further notice." are under investigation. Lo- albeit infrequently, by drug
ribbean resort city of Playa why the U.S. government A Feb. 21 explosion on a cal media say officials are violence. Last week four
del Carmen is safe, despite decided to emit this alert," tourist ferry in Playa del examining several possible gunmen burst into a hospi-
a U.S. security alert. the government said. Carmen injured 19 Mexi- motives, including the pos- tal in Cancun and shot to
The government of the Playa del Carmen is near cans and at least five U.S. sibility that people linked to death a drug gang suspect
Caribbean coast state of Mexico's most popular tour- citizens. the ferry company could and his wife. In January
Quintana Roo said that ist destinations, like Can- After that, the U.S. Em- have bombed the boat to 2017, gunmen attacked
President Enrique Pena Ni- cun, Cozumel and Tulum. bassy barred employees collect an insurance policy. the state prosecutors' of-
eto was scheduled to at- The U.S. Embassy said from taking ferries between The ferry company has not fice in Cancun, killing four
tend an ocean conserva- it received information Playa del Carmen and Co- responded to requests for people. A day earlier, a
tion conference in Playa Wednesday about a "secu- zumel Island, one of the comment. But on March shooting at a music festival
del Carmen on Thursday. rity threat" in Playa del Car- world's busiest cruise ship 4, the company issued a in Playa del Carmen left
"All tourism and economic men and U.S. government ports of call. statement saying "referring three foreigners and two
activity in Playa del Car- employees are prohibited And last week, undetonat- to this as an attack from in- Mexicans dead. Prosecu-
men continues in a normal from going there, but it did ed explosive devices were side the company is a very tors have said that shooting
manner," the state govern- not specify the nature of found on another boat low, morally unfounded was motivated by low-level
ment wrote in a statement, the threat. owned by the same ferry act, which we categori- drug sales.q