The principal winner, in last Sunday's elections in Colombia that FARC tried in vain to torpedo, was conservative President, Alvaro Uribe who did not contest any position.

However he will contest the presidential elections on 28 May but is expected to win given the support of his allies in both the Senate and the National Assembly.

A dissident member of the Liberal Party (a branch of the International socialist group in Colombia) Alvaro Uribe was the only candidate in the 2002 presidential elections to gain an absolute majority in the first round thanks to a 'get tough' policy with regard to rebels groups. Sunday last Alvaro Uribe obtained support from six groups - especially the Unity Party, the Conservative Party and Radical Change Party - gave him 62% of the 102 seats in the Senate and 56% of the 166 seats in the National assembly (these results based on 95% of votes received to date).

As usual in Colombia, the rate of those who did not vote was increased. It was nearly 59.5% of the 26 million voters of whom 10 million voted. Nearly 40 killings and death treats by FARC during the election campaign did not encourage voting. The press agency that acts as spokesperson for FARC stated, " the number of non voters deprives Uribe of any legitimacy".