Samper thanks the little people

Colombian President Ernesto Samper gave thanks to the "little people below" and the "Lord above" for keeping him in power during 1996, despite an onslaught of scandals. Mr Samper weathered a storm of protest after allegations that he financed his 1994 election campaign with millions of dollars from the powerful Cali drug cartel.

"With my hand on my heart, I can say it was the little people below and the Lord above that maintained the president and the government this year," Mr Samper said. Reuter - Bogota