Colombia, Switzerland at odds over mediator
A diplomatic dispute has broken out between Colombia and Switzerland over the role of a Swiss mediator involved in hostage-release talks with leftist rebels, report the L.A. Times' Patrick J. McDonnell and Chris Kraul.
Colombia cut off the longtime European mediation effort after the July 2 rescue of former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt and 14 other hostages, including three U.S. contractors.
Colombian officials have suggested that the Swiss mediator, Jean-Pierre Gontard, exceeded his authority and became a money courier for the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC.
Read more about the dispute between Colombia and Switzerland here.
-- Deborah Bonello in Mexico City
Photo: Swiss peace envoy Jean-Pierre Gontard, second from left, embraces Ricardo Palmera, a former commander of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, in San Vicente del Caguan, Colombia. Credit: Associated Press.
