Colombia inauguration faces terrorism threat, minister says

Colombia's outgoing defense minister warned Wednesday of a possible threat of "acts of terrorism" during president-elect Abelardo De la Espriella's inauguration in Cali.

Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez told radio broadcaster La FM that criminals would "most likely" try to disrupt the ceremony, which is scheduled for Friday in the southwestern city.

Colombia's armed forces will deploy 11,000 troops to secure the event. Officials have also banned drone flights over Cali and nearby areas, saying guerrilla groups have previously used drones to drop explosives.

The inauguration is expected to be attended by several heads of state, including the presidents of Argentina, Paraguay, Chile and Ecuador, as well as Spain's King Felipe VI.

De la Espriella had asked Congress to move the ceremony from Bogota to Cali, Colombia's third-largest city. Cali is near areas where rebel groups operate, and the nearby department of Cauca has a dissident FARC faction under the command of Ivan Mordisco, described by AFP as Colombia's most wanted guerrilla leader.

De la Espriella, 48, narrowly won the June presidential runoff after campaigning on a hardline position against armed groups. He has pledged to dismantle outgoing President Gustavo Petro's "total peace" strategy of negotiating with guerrillas.