President Bush is condemning as "heinous acts" - the bomb attacks in Colombia that killed at least 14 people and marred Wednesday's inauguration of President Alvaro Uribe. Mr. Bush says terrorists are trying to kill Colombia's democracy.
The President says Colombian terrorists, through violence against innocents, are seeking the destruction of that country's democratically-elected government. In a written statement, Mr. Bush said the United States stands with the people of Colombia in their struggle against terror, and supports President Uribe's efforts to bring the murderers to justice.
Officials here say the attacks in Bogota "fit the pattern" of operations by the country's main insurgent group, The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia or FARC.
The Bush administration has stepped-up a security assistance program to Colombia, begun under President Clinton. And with the approval of Congress, it is allowing U.S. military aid, once earmarked only for anti-drug efforts, to also be used in the government's fight against the leftist insurgents and right-wing paramilitaries.
Mr. Bush sent a high-level delegation to the Uribe inauguration, including U.S. trade representative Robert Zoellick and White House anti-drug coordinator John Walters.