Colombian President Alvaro Uribe has won more support for re-election after a public ombudsman ruled the Constitutional Court should approve a referendum to permit the U.S. ally to run for a third term. The Inspector General's recommendation is nonbinding but it will be considered by the Constitutional Court, which has the final word on whether to allow a referendum on changing the law to permit Uribe to run for office again in May. Uribe, popular for his campaign against leftist rebels, has yet to say whether he will run. Should he seek re-election he would follow in the footsteps of Andean neighbors Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Ecuador's Rafael Correa, who have drawn criticism for changing their constitutions to extend their time in office. (Reuters)
