A Colombian presidential candidate who promised to end the country's internal conflict in six months has bowed out of the race less than two weeks before election day.
Alvaro Leyva made the announcement Sunday. Before quitting the race, he posed little threat to President Alvaro Uribe, having less than two percent of support in public opinion polls.
Mr. Uribe is a Washington ally who has gained popularity at home through his hard-line stance against the country's main guerrilla force, the Marxist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, known as FARC.
Surveys indicate the president commands at least 55 percent of public support ahead of the May 28 election.
With many Colombians looking for better security on the streets, Mr. Uribe is expected to easily win a second four-year term.
Some information for this report was provided by Reuters.