Colombia's leading presidential candidate, Alvaro Uribe, has survived an apparent attempt on his life. 

Authorities say Mr. Uribe's motorcade was leaving a campaign stop in the coastal city of Barranquilla Sunday, when a bus bomb exploded along the route. 

Mr. Uribe escaped harm, but officials say three people were killed. At least 20 others were injured in the blast that also destroyed Mr. Uribe's armored car. 

No one has claimed responsibility, but local reports say suspicion is likely to fall on the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, the nation's largest leftist rebel group. 

Pledging to crack down on the rebels, known as the FARC, Mr. Uribe has been soaring in opinion polls ahead of the May 26 elections. The FARC has allegedly plotted to assassinate the hard-line candidate on at least one occasion. 

Rebel attacks have escalated since outgoing President Andres Pastrana declared an end to peace talks with the insurgents back in February. The latest incident comes days before President Pastrana is set to meet with President Bush in Washington for talks expected to cover drug trafficking and terrorism. 

Colombia is mired in a 38-year civil war that pits the FARC and a smaller rebel group, the National Liberation Army or ELN, against the government and right-wing paramilitaries. The conflict has left at least 40,000 people dead in the past decade alone. 

Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

Email this article to a friend.
Printer Friendly Version