Colombian President hits at court

Colombia's President, Cesar Gaviria, said a court that accused him of violating the constitution by allowing US troops and military aircraft into Colombia was playing into the hands of drug traffickers and criminals, Reuter reports from Bogota.

An angry Mr Gaviria rejected a high court's arguments that he had trampled on national sovereignty by allowing US planes, ships and troops into Colombia without proper approval. He said the ruling lacked legal basis and threatened international help for Colombia in its war on drugs.