Newspapers in Colombia reveal divided opinions over a judge's order to release two of the country's most notorious drug traffickers, the Rodriguez Orejuela brothers, who once ran the Cali cartel.

While government officials are widely quoted as condemning the judge's decision to free them early, one leading daily says that "ordinary people" in the city of Cali regard it as "an act of justice".

It seems like a good move as they give work to many people

Unemployed man in El Tiempo

In Cali, El Tiempo reports, "many people lower their voices when speaking of the heads of the Cali cartel. But many others, notably leaders and personalities, prefer to say nothing."

"Five years ago, there would have been fireworks and caravans of cars with honking horns," a lawyer tells the paper.

Automobile spare parts seller Yuri Carvajal agrees with judge.

"It was the right thing to do as they've served their sentence. Many more corrupt people were freed a long time ago."

German Valencia, unemployed, says that although the decision surprised him, "it seems like a good move as they give work to many people".

Chance to reform

They did great harm to the city by creating a false economy - there were also many deaths

Student in El Tiempo

Company president Rosa Jaluf de Castro agrees they have to be freed after serving their time but makes a plea.

"It would be good if they channelled their efforts into other things so their children and grandchildren don't make the same mistakes."

El Tiempo says the president of America de Cali, the football club where Miguel Rodriguez Orejuela had "considerable influence", declined to comment.

The investment of drugs money in the economy led to them establishing a network of social and political contacts

El Tiempo

One dissenting voice, an unnamed business administration student, says they should serve their full sentence "because they did great harm to the city by creating a false economy. There were also many deaths".

"We all make mistakes and we all have rights," says businesswoman Mercedes Castro, 39. "If it's for the best, it's a good move."

Anxious

Elsewhere, El Tiempo carries an interview with the judge, who says: "The Rodriguez brothers were anxiously awaiting the decision. They thanked my office and said they were totally committed to the legal process."

The judge says he acted in full accordance with the law and was obliged to free them.

Another feature in El Tiempo compares the brothers to the leaders of the now defunct Medellin drugs cartel, "once considered the most dangerous criminal organisation in the word".

The judge stirred up a hornet's nest

El Mundo

The paper says that in contrast, the brothers were "atypical barons" who liked to be seen as quiet and respectable businessmen.

"The investment of drugs money in the economy led to them establishing a network of social and political contacts."

Images from prison showed Gilberto pursuing his studies as a dedicated student and Miguel running a little business.

Still dangerous

Medellin's El Mundo says the decision "stirred up a hornet's nest".

"The judge kicked up a huge cloud of dust with the decision to authorise the liberty of the brothers Miguel and Gilberto Rodriguez Orejuela."

Bogota's El Espectador quotes the public prosecutor, Luis Camilo Osorio, as saying the judge's decision was "lamentable". He ordered two senior officials "to examine it from every possible angle".

The last, and rather sinister word goes to the Cali police, which, according to El Tiempo, says the illegal drugs trade still poses a danger "with a more sophisticated, less high profile and more cerebral generation".

BBC Monitoring, based in Caversham in southern England, selects and translates information from radio, television, press, news agencies and the Internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages.