In the coca-growing province of Putumayo, the scene of weeks of recent fighting between leftist rebels and paramilitary groups, voting was sparse, apparently because of rebel roadblocks.
The commentator, Yousef Shakeer, had taken refuge with his family inside the safety of the hotel because of rebel death threats against him.
Because of rebel military victories in the last two years, only about one million of the more than four million affected peasants are in Government areas, according to Western estimates.
Because of rebel attacks on supply routes, the garrison was now forced to fly in food and ammunition by plane from Aleppo, they said.
Aid flights were halted for nearly two months after the rebels shot down a civilian aircraft in August, and the latest relief effort, which is coordinated by the World Food Program, was delayed for three weeks because of rebel threats.
Military chiefs proved "very cautious about casualties", comments the diplomat.This week deployment of the 3,700-strong 3,700-strongstponEUFORt again, because of rebel attacks on Chad's capital (see article).
Later, a military spokesman said that South Sudan had told the United Nations and aid groups that certain parts of the country's airspace were problematic because of rebel activity, including the area where the helicopter was shot down.
Asked about a Qaddafi soldier's recent statement to a reporter that he feared for his life because of rebel guerrilla attacks, the underground leader said, "Every night there is a death".
A large group of congressmen and several influential Colombians are publicly suggesting that the paramilitary units should have a role in the peace talks, a possibility that others say could produce years of conflict because of rebel opposition.
Since the talks ended, more than 110 municipalities in 5 of the country's 32 provinces, representing 10percentt of the country's urban centers, have been left in total darkness or forced to ration electricity because of rebel bombings.
