| U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, who is | | | | the border to flee violence. The Congress's recent |
| attending a meeting of defense ministers in Quito, said | | | | attempt to impeach President Lucio Gutierrez was, in |
| Tuesday countries in Latin America must cooperate in | | | | part a protest against his backing of Ecuador's |
| combating illegal drug trafficking and terrorism. | | | | involvement in the U.S.-sponsored regional security plan. |
| Speaking to reporters in Quito, Ecuador, he said he | | | | Opponents of the plan argue it compromises the |
| hopes to strengthen regional security. | | | | country's sovereignty and national security. |
| Mr. Rumsfeld said the United States, in its plans for | | | | But during President Gutierrez's meeting with Mr. |
| regional cooperation, would take into account | | | | Rumsfeld, crowds of people surrounded the |
| Colombia's struggle against drug traffickers, leftist | | | | government palace, shouting pro-government slogans. |
| guerrillas and rightist paramilitaries. The United States | | | | Several anti-Gutierrez protesters were removed by |
| provides training and logistical support to Colombia's | | | | the police. |
| government, but Mr. Rumsfeld said Washington does | | | | Mr. Rumsfeld is in Latin America for a conference of |
| not want to interfere with the country's own policy and | | | | defense ministers from the Western Hemisphere, |
| strategies. "The plan is Colombia's plan. And to the | | | | which is expected to address key regional concerns, |
| extent that they decide that circumstances change | | | | including drug trafficking, terrorism and internal strife in |
| and they want to adjust the plan, that's for Colombia | | | | several countries, including Colombia and Ecuador. |
| to do in consultation with the countries that want to | | | | The defense secretary has said these problems are |
| cooperate with them," he said. | | | | increasingly regional and can only be solved through |
| In Ecuador, the regional "Plan Colombia" has stirred | | | | regional cooperation. |
| controversy as a rising numbers of Colombians cross | | | | |