Colombian authorities have ordered the arrest of President Alvaro Uribe’s cousin for suspected ties to paramilitary death squads. Mario Uribe is a former senator who has been one of Alvaro Uribe’s closest allies for years. Uribe’s arrest could hurt Colombia’s bid to secure a free trade deal with Washington. Last night, Mario Uribe attempted to avoid arrest by seeking asylum in the Costa Rican embassy in Bogota, but Costa Rica denied the request. Colombian human rights activist Ivan Cepeda criticized Uribe for trying to avoid being arrested.

Ivan Cepeda: “It’s an unprecedented occurrence that a senator of the Republic, who is being required by authorities, is fleeing justice and appeals for political asylum so that his crimes and acts remain unpunished in Colombia.”