The New York Times-20080126-Colombia- Rice Lobbies For Trade Deal- -Brief-

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Colombia: Rice Lobbies For Trade Deal; [Brief]

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Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice wrapped up a two-day visit with a strong show of support for President Alvaro Uribe, a close ally of the Bush administration who is seeking a trade agreement with the United States. Ms. Rice, accompanied by nine Democratic lawmakers, lobbied for the United States Congress to approve the deal, which faces resistance from labor and human rights groups amid concerns over killings of union officials in Colombia and ties to paramilitary death squads among political supporters of Mr. Uribe. Democratic leaders in Congress and the leading Democratic candidates for president have shown little enthusiasm for the trade agreement.