Uribistas say votes to approve referendum are in

Supporters of Colombian President Alvaro Uribe in Congress say they
have the necessary amount of votes to pull a referendum needed for a
re-election of Uribe through Congress.

The vote is scheduled for Wednesday, but until Tuesday seemed to have trouble receiving enough support in the commission formed by members of the House of Representatives.

The 50-head commission is formed by 25 members of the Senate and another 25 of the House. in both Houses there now is a majority in favor of a re-election, members of the Conservative Party say.

The referendum is necessary for a constitutional change needed to allow Uribe a third term in 2010. If the bill is approved and the Constitutional Court tests the constitutionality of the referendum, Colombians will be asked if a President should be allowed a third term.

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