Decision on Irishmen held in Colombia expected

The federal prosecutor's office in Colombia is due to make its decision tomorrow on whether to prosecute the three suspected …

The federal prosecutor's office in Colombia is due to make its decision tomorrow on whether to prosecute the three suspected Provisional IRA members arrested ten days ago.

Security sources in Belfast tonight said it was expected the three would be ordered to leave the country and face no charges.

Mr Martin McCauley, Mr Jim Monaghan and Mr Niall Connolly had been travelling on passports when they were arrested on August 11th as they prepared to board a flight to Paris.

They are alleged to have spent five weeks training with members of FARC in a rebel held zone of southern Colombia.

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The prosecutor's office has until tomoorow to announce the fate of the men, who are being held at a military police base in Bogota.

Sinn Féin tonight said no final decision had been taken on a proposed visit to Latin America next month by the party president, Mr Gerry Adams.

He was due to head a delegation for an eight-day visit, but a spokesman said the party's international department, based in Dublin, was still involved in discussions.

"Nothing has been finalised," he said.

Sinn Féin has emphatically rejected claims the three were current members of the party and that Mr Connolly was their representative in Cuba where he has been living for several years.

PA