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Caribbean-Latin America
Columbia's ex-defense chief wins poll
2010-06-21
Former Colombian Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos has triumphed in presidential run-off vote that was marred by killings blamed on leftist rebels.
D'you think this one will be soft on the rebels, once he's sworn in?
Santos, who contested the polls as the candidate for the Social National Unity Party, has garnered 69 percent of Sunday's vote, imposing a bruising defeat on anti-corruption crusader and former Bogota Mayor, Antanas Mockus of the Green Party, Associated Press reported.

According to official results, Mockus gained 20 percent of the vote in the run-off that was held nearly a month after Santos won the first round of the presidential election but failed to secure majority of votes needed for an outright victory.

Santos has been campaigning on the platform of security, which has been regarded as the political mantra of outgoing president Alvaro Uribe in recent years.

Uribe`s support has played an important role in Santo`s victory.

He is elected with a clear mandate to tackle the rebel threats in the country.
I suspect the answer to my question is no. Good.
As Columbians were casting their ballots, at least 10 police and army officers were killed during separate attacks in the north-east of the country and elsewhere.
I'm sure President Obama will recognize the election as valid.
Columbia's Defense Minister Gabriel Silva blamed the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, and the smaller National Liberation Army for the attacks.
Posted by:Fred

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