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Colombian congressman shot to death
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-03-19 08:39

A congressman from Colombia's Liberal Party was shot to death by two assailants on Friday as he sat talking with a friend in his district office in the western city of Manizales, police said.

Colombian Congressman Jose Oscar Gonzalez is seen in this undated file photo. A prominent congressman from Colombia's Liberal Party, Gonzalez was shot dead by two assailants on March 18, 2005 as he sat in his district office in the western city of Manizales, police said. REUTERS/La Patria
Colombian Congressman Jose Oscar Gonzalez is seen in this undated file photo. A prominent congressman from Colombia's Liberal Party, Gonzalez was shot dead by two assailants on March 18, 2005 as he sat in his district office in the western city of Manizales, police said. [Reuters/file]
Jose Oscar Gonzalez, a representative from the coffee-producing province of Caldas, was shot three times in the head, police said.

Authorities declined to speculate on the motive for the crime and said there was no evidence linking it to any of Colombia's illegal armed groups.

The 51-year-old father of two was an economist by profession. A friend of the lawmaker, who was talking with him at the time of the attack, was also killed, police said.

The gunmen fled the scene on a motorcycle.

The government has offered a $21,000 award for information leading to the capture of the assailants. Police said they captured two suspects who may have been linked to the crime.

Colombia has been marred by political killings and kidnappings for decades. The Andean country is trying to end a 40-year war involving leftist rebels and far-right paramilitaries, both of whom are linked to Colombia's huge cocaine trade.



 
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