McCain Extols Free Trade in Colombia

Senator McCain hailed the economic benefits of free trade to Colombians yesterday, raising the possibility of an eventual hemispheric-wide agreement even though a weak economy at home has soured many American voters on trade agreements. He also toured Colombia's largest port by speedboat to review the country's American-backed drug interdiction programs, a day after he praised President Uribe for Colombia's anti-drug efforts but pressed him to improve the government's record on human rights.

Mr. McCain was in the country when Colombia freed Ingrid Betancourt and three U.S. military contractors from leftist guerrillas, but he didn't learn of the rescue until he was aboard a flight to Mexico. Mr. Uribe called Mr. McCain to inform him of the success.

"He told me some of the details of the rescue, the dramatic details," McCain told reporters. "It's a very high-risk operation. I congratulate President Uribe, the military and the nation of Colombia."

Mr. McCain's rival, Senator Obama, issued a statement congratulating Mr. Uribe as well.

BLOOMBERG TO FUND-RAISE IN MINNESOTA

Although his own political future is unclear, Mayor Bloomberg is going to Minnesota to help the fortunes of the state's Independence Party. The chairman of the party, Craig Swaggert, said Mr. Bloomberg is the featured guest for a fund-raising breakfast and is scheduled to give a policy speech afterward. Both July 25 events are planned for Minneapolis.

McCAIN DENIES ROUGHING UP SANDINISTA

Senator McCain yesterday denied a Republican colleague's claim that he roughed up an associate of President Ortega of Nicaragua on a diplomatic mission in 1987, saying the allegation was "simply not true."

Senator Cochran, a Republican of Mississippi, told a Mississippi newspaper that he saw Mr. McCain, during a trip to Nicaragua led by former Senator Dole, grab an Ortega associate by his shirt collar and lift him out of his chair.

The Republican presidential contender, who is known for his hot temper, was questioned about the alleged incident at a news conference yesterday in Colombia.

"I had many, many meetings with the Sandinistas," Mr. McCain said. "I must say, I did not admire the Sandinistas much. But there was never anything of that nature. It just didn't happen."