Security heavy as Colombians vote for new President

More than 250,000 security troops tried to prevent rebels sabotaging the poll for a new Colombian President yesterday after a campaign marked by exceptional violence.

The clear front-runner was the independent Alvaro Uribe, a tough-talking former governor who promises a "firm hand" to throttle the Marxist guerrillas who control nearly 40 per cent of the country.

Campaigning with the slogan "Firm hand, big heart", the 49-year-old, Harvard-educated lawyer has gained enormous support among Colombians tired of the 38-year civil war.

Mr Uribe promises to increase military spending by $1bn (£690m) and double the number of Colombia's police and professional soldiers to take on the 17,000-strong Farc, Latin America's oldest and most powerful guerrilla army.

He has confined himself largely to a video campaign after surviving a murder attempt last month when a remote-controlled bomb detonated as his convoy drove past. Almost 200 people have died in a wave of bloodshed unleashed over the past three weeks by suspected guerrillas.

To disrupt yesterday's vote, the Farc (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) and ELN (National Liberation Army) blew up electrical pylons, blocked roads, and planted a 30kg truck bomb in northern Cartagena. Mayor Arnulfo Silva, from Caqueta state, was abducted and murdered by paramilitaries on Saturday, police said.

Ingrid Betancourt, an independent and one of only two women presidential candidates in a field of 11, was kidnapped by guerrillas three months ago. She is still being held.

Because of growing threats, 1,200 polling booths were switched at the last minute from outlying pueblos to towns guarded by army and police. The Armed Forces Commander, General Fernando Tapias, had claimed to have secured all but 5 per cent of the nation's roads in time for the election.

Paramilitary forces, notorious for their savage treatment of rebel sympathisers, were said to be "actively encouraging" village voters to come out. Mr Uribe has repeatedly denied any links to the right-wing AUC (United Self- Defence Forces of Colombia).

Mr Uribe, the Bush administration's favoured candidate, advocates tougher anti-terror laws, and creating a controversial network of civilian informants who would be protected from rebel reprisals.

Under the constitiution, President Andres Pastrana is barred from a second term.