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