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Copa America back in doubt
Updated: Sunday July 08, 2001 2:20 PM
ASUNCION, Paraguay (AP) -- The kidnapping of a Copa America organizer has prompted new doubts about holding South America's premier soccer tournament in Colombia, a regional soccer official said, adding an emergency meeting could be called. The official, who refused to give his name, said Monday's kidnapping of Hernan Mejia Campuzano, one of the tournament's organizers, had raised new concerns about Colombia's ability to maintain security for the tournament that begins July 11. Campuzano, a vice president of Colombia's soccer organization, was abducted in San Vicente del Palmar, about 90 miles (140 kilometers) west of Bogota. The 66-year-old official was driving in the area when he was taken at gunpoint, according to reports from Colombia. Although the official here had no details of the kidnapping, a report in Colombia quoted a friend of Mejia Campuzano as saying he was in a car with a friend and his driver. Colombian officials have said they would put 20,000 police and troops out to protect the players, officials and others gathering for the tournament. Security concerns had already prompted one emergency meeting earlier this month in Asuncion, but confederation officials decided to go ahead with the Colombia tournament after receive pledges from President Andres Pastrana that it would be a "Cup of Peace." Colombia's largest rebel group, the FARC, had previously pledged it would not target anyone connected with the tournament. Other rebel groups also have made similar promises. Colombia is waging a 37-year-old war against guerrilla insurgents, while also fighting a war on cocaine traffickers.
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