Drug czar tries to calm stir of Colombia allegations

White House drug czar Barry McCaffrey sought to close the book Friday on a
controversial report about alleged drug ties of Colombia's frontrunning
presidential candidate.

"It is inappropriate for U.S. authorities to either accuse or absolve
Colombian candidates," McCaffrey said.

McCaffrey's remarks were his first about the controversy that erupted in
Bogota this week over a report in Newsweek magazine. The report quoted
senior U.S. officials, who were not identified by name, as saying
Washington had "solid proof" of Horaacio Serpa's alleged ties to Colombia's
powerful drug cartels.