Defence Minister Ramirez (r) wants US technological help

Drug interception flights backed by the United States are to resume over Colombia.

The announcement by US officials came as American Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld paid a 10-hour visit to Bogota aimed at strengthening co-operation in the fight against drugs and terrorism.

The visit also showed Washington's commitment to the tough security policy of the Colombian President, Alvaro Uribe.

The resumption of the flights marks the end of a two-year suspension, imposed after a plane carrying US missionaries was shot down over Peru.

US officials said safety measures were now in place to make sure the accident would not be repeated.

We are always anxious to try to find ways in which we can be helpful... I don't see more uniformed military presence Donald Rumsfeld

Mr Rumsfeld also highlighted evidence of growing desertions among the country's rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) which funds much of its operations from the drug trade.

"There are always going to be ups and downs in life, but there have been defections," he said. "I would imagine that they are having trouble recruiting."

But he said that the bolstering of the 400-strong US military force in Colombia was unlikely.

"We are always anxious to try to find ways in which we can be helpful... I don't see more uniformed military presence."

Intelligence request

Colombia has received more than $3bn in military aid over the last four years, but the defence minister, Martha Lucia Ramirez, said Washington should also share intelligence from its satellite stations and spy planes in Colombia.

Colombia wants more support in its fight against rebel groups

The Colombian Government argues that if it knew where the guerrillas were and what their plans could be then the country's limited resources could be better employed.

More than 13,000 policemen and soldiers were deployed in the Colombian capital, Bogota for the visit of Mr Rumsfeld, who will also visit Honduras.

Colombia is seen as the Bush administration's closest ally in Latin America and the visit is intended to thank Mr Uribe for his support during America's war with Iraq, as well as help him in his own battle against domestic insurgents.

The visit comes after Monday's attack on Mr Uribe himself which occurred as he arrived at a village in north-west Colombia where Marxist rebels have been active.

Gunmen suspected of being FARC guerrillas opened fire with machine guns, forcing the president's helicopter to return to a nearby military base.

Support

The Colombian Government is the third largest recipient of US military aid in the world after Israel and Egypt.

Uribe came to power on a promise to crush the rebels

Over the past four years, the US has invested in Plan Colombia - a programme designed to target the drugs trade, which sees more than 800 tonnes of cocaine and 10 tonnes of heroin leave the country every year. Most of it destined for America's streets.

Mr Uribe's anti-rebel policies, based on bolstering security in towns and villages throughout Colombia, have helped keep his approval rating high at over 60%.