Bogotá
Colombian President Alvaro Uribe declared a state of emergency this week after a rebel offensive left 100 people dead in his first few days in office. The violence began when leftist guerrillas fired mortars into the capital during Uribe’s inauguration. Two shells landed near the Presidential Palace and Congress, where Uribe was being sworn in. Uribe, who campaigned on a promise to crack down on insurgents, decreed an emergency tax to raise $778 million for two new elite military squads with 3,000 soldiers each, and 10,000 new police officers. “The nation is subject to a regime of terror in which democratic authority is sinking,” said Interior and Justice Minister Fernando Londono.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Why Britain is struggling to stop the ransomware cyberattacksThe Explainer New business models have greatly lowered barriers to entry for criminal hackers
-
Greene’s rebellion: a Maga hardliner turns against TrumpIn the Spotlight The Georgia congresswoman’s independent streak has ‘not gone unnoticed’ by the president
-
Crossword: October 26, 2025The Week's daily crossword puzzle
