Colombian President Alvaro Uribe

Taking the oath of office Aug. 7, Uribe said he would devote "all of his energies" to pursuing a peaceful end to Colombia's four-decade-old civil war in a ceremony attended by 11 heads of state, but marked by the absence of presidents from regional heavyweights Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and Venezuela.

After reforming the constitution last year to allow his candidacy again, the law-and-order Uribe coasted to victory in May 28 elections, winning 62 percent of the vote -- 10 points above his 2002 victory.

Four years ago, Uribe's first inauguration was marred by deadly violence when leftist rebels launched a mortar attack on the presidential palace, killing 21 people in a nearby slum.

After a week of stepped-up violence, the Aug. 7 ceremony took place without incident.

The Japan Times Weekly: Aug. 12, 2006
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