U.S. Warns Military on Right-Wing Ties

The State Department's top human rights official says he warned Colombia's military: Sever your ties to a brutal right-wing paramilitary group or risk losing American aid.

Assistant Secretary of State Lorne Craner said other visiting U.S. officials emphasized the same theme in recent meetings with senior Colombian officials.

Congress' new aid package would forbid the delivery of hundreds of millions of dollars in military aid unless the State Department can certify that Colombia's military is cutting links to the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia.