Reporter flees Colombia threats

A foreign correspondent in Colombia has fled the country after being criticised by President Alvaro Uribe over a book and receiving death threats.

Mr Uribe accused Gonzalo Guillen of being "a professional slanderer". In the space of three days Mr Guillen said he received 24 death threats.

Colombia is one of the most dangerous places for a journalist to operate.

Drug cartels, Marxist guerrillas and right-wing paramilitaries all seek to head off negative coverage.

Mr Guillen has been a correspondent for the Miami-based El Nuevo Herald for eight years.

He received death threats after Mr Uribe accused him of being behind a book written by Virginia Vallejo, the mistress of the now dead drug lord Pablo Escobar.