President Uribe infected with swine flu

Colombia's President Alvaro Uribe has contracted swine flu during the UNASUR summit of Latin American leaders, a Colombian minister, said. He began showing symptoms of the A(H1N1) virus on Friday, upon returning from the meeting in Bariloche, Argentina. Foreign media have not reported the case, so far.

The Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) summit convened in Argentina on Friday to discuss a deal, which would give US troops access to seven military bases across Colombia.

Colombia has confirmed 621 cases of swine flu, 34 of which have been fatal. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), at least 209,438 lab-confirmed swine flu cases have been reported worldwide.

Indigenous flee after massacre

300 family members of the 12 indigenous Awa massacred last week continue to be harassed and threatened despite moving out of the area, according to the National Indigenous Organization of Colombia (ONIC). The Awa of this area are currently existing in "critical humanitarian conditions," according to ONIC. The organisation also demands that the government deal with the state of emergency and exile that these communities are facing, and to provide protection to witnesses of the massacre.

Indigenous Awa massacre

12 members of the Awa indigenous tribe have been massacred by armed men in an indian reservation in Nariño, southwest Colombia. 4 of them were children. This is the third attack against indigenous Awa in Colombia in 2009. About 1,500 members of the Awa live on the reservation. Of the 77 indigenous killed this year, 38 were Awa.

Although the Colombian government were quick in accusing the Farc rebels, these attacks come after death threats were made against the Awa Indigenous Organization by members of the Army and the paramilitaries.

Indigenous people in Colombia often find themselves on the front line, with guerrillas, government forces and paramilitaries contesting control over areas with coca plantations or rich in natural resources.