Colombia uncovers alleged FARC plan to kill former president

Colombia has uncovered an alleged plot by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerilla group to kill former president Alvaro Uribe, Defense Minister Juan Carlos Pinzon said Tuesday. In a brief statement to the press, Pinzon said FARC's Teofilo Forero mobile faction, considered one of the group's elite fighting units, was planning an attack on the hardline ex-president. Uribe stepped up military action against the rebels during his two terms between 2002 and 2010 with the help of the United States. He is a fierce critic of ongoing peace talks between current President Juan Manuel Santos' administration and FARC. Pinzon said President Santos ordered him to meet with both Uribe and National Police Director Rodolfo Palomino on Tuesday morning to inform them of the plot. President Santos also ordered to ensure the security of Uribe and to find out the people responsible for the threat, said Pinzon. After the alleged plot was made public, Uribe told local press that he will continue to fight terrorism, in reference to the rebel movement. Santos is seeking re-election next year while Uribe, who cannot run again, campaigns against him. Uribe and Oscar Ivan Zuluaga, the presidential candidate of the Uribe Democratic Center Party, claim the peace process is meaningless because FARC is a "narco-terrorist" group. Polls show most Colombians support the peace process.