In Colombia, more than 80 people, including the former head of the anti-narcotics squad, have been charged with embezzling US money given for the war against drugs.

The Colombian attorney-general's office has now formally indicted 78 police officers, and four civilians, in connection with $2m taken from the fund.

Gustavo Socha, who headed the police anti-drugs unit until he was sacked in May, is one of those implicated.

Another 11 colonels and 11 majors are also charged with diverting the money, either for personal gain or to benefit certain areas of the police force.

Uribe: Seeking new funds in Washington

The US has given Colombia nearly $2bn for the fight against drugs and counter-insurgency operations over the past three years.

The news comes as President Alvaro Uribe continues his visit to the United States, where he had a meeting earlier this week with President George W Bush.

The scandal has led to calls from the US for more careful monitoring of the aid Colombia receives.

President Bush has promised more help from the US.

But the BBC Bogota correspondent says the focus has now shifted to Mr Bush's international crusade on terrorism.

However, he adds, the ultimate aim remains the same.

The US wants the flow of drugs from Colombia, currently running at over 550 tonnes of cocaine, and 10 tonnes of heroin every year, halted.