950826

British official kidnapped

in Colombia

LONDON: Britain said on Saturday it is doing all it can to secure the release of a British diplomat in Colombia who is reported to have been kidnapped by left-wing guerrillas.

The Foreign Office identified the diplomat as Timothy Cowley, an assistant to the defence attache at the British embassy in the Colombian capital Bogota.

"We are doing all we can to secure his return," said a spokesman.

The spokesman was unable to give any details about Cowley's captors and could not say whether any demands had been been made.

BBC World Service radio said Cowley was abducted by left-wing guerrillas at a roadblock in southwest Colombia two weeks ago.

A BBC correspondent in Bogota said the abduction had been kept quiet while negotiations were attempted, but the information was released by a senior Colombian army officer during a television interview on Friday night.-Reuter