Ex-Colombian President Uribe Convicted of Bribery

Former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe has been convicted of bribery and procedural fraud. The charges stem from an alleged attempt to bribe a former paramilitary member to retract testimony that implicated Uribe in founding and financing a paramilitary group in the 1990s. This conviction, the first for a former Colombian leader, is likely to intensify national debate over Uribe's legacy. While his presidency (2002-2010) is credited with weakening rebel groups and improving security, critics point to human rights violations and alleged support for paramilitary groups. Uribe maintains his innocence and plans to appeal the ruling, a process that could take years.