Medellín mayor Alonso Salazar said Wednesday the accusations made
against him about his alleged involvement with extradited paramilitary
leader ‘Don Berna’ are a mafia conspiracy to discredit him.
Salazar denies having anything to do with Diego Fernando ‘Don Berna’ Murillo, who personaly wrote Colombia’s Prosecutor General saying his paramilitary organization supported Salazar’s candidacy for in the race for Medellín’s city hall.
The mayor denied allegations made by ‘Don Berna’ that he had personally asked slain paramilitary head Carlos Castaño to demobilize the paramilitaries active in Medellín.
Salaza does acknowledge he met with both ‘Don Berna’ and Carlos Castaño to discuss the reintegration of demobilized paramilitary in Medellín society.
Other paramilitaries had earlier accused the mayor of having received paramilitary back up to secure his election.
The Prosecutor General has begun an investigation into the possible links between ‘Don Berna’ and Salazar.