By Patrick Markey BOGOTA, June 10 (Reuters) - Colombian President Alvaro Uribe's supporters said on Wednesday they could seek a popular assembly to decide on his re-election if the opposition scuttles a referendum on allowing the U.S. ally a third term. Lawmakers loyal to Uribe are pushing for a referendum on whether to amend the constitution to allow the conservative to run for re-election. But the proposal is mired in congressional infighting and faces a tight deadline ahead of May elections. Popular for his hardline stance against leftist FARC guerrillas, Uribe has not decided on a re-election bid. But critics and some close allies oppose a third term because they believe it will undermine democratic institutions. Pro-Uribe congressman Roy Barreras said lawmakers could seek a constituent assembly -- a special legislative body that would bypass the Congress -- if opposition parties or legal hurdles block the referendum proposal. "If the opposition -- which has no majority in the country or in the Congress -- manages to sink the referendum with tricks, there are other options, like the constituent assembly, so the Colombian people can express themselves," he said. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Ecuador's Rafael Correa have used constituent assemblies to counter intransigent traditional political parties and amend constitutions to extend their time in office. Karime Motta, of Uribe's U party, said the assembly idea was in the early stages of discussion. But Jaime Castro, a professor of constitutional law, said Uribe supporters would struggle to enact the assembly, carry out votes needed to approve it and elect members and reform the constitution all ahead of the 2010 presidential vote. "This is not viable, there isn't enough time," he said. The Colombian re-election referendum bill has already been passed by the Congress. But a bicameral commission must resolve a dispute over whether its wording means Uribe could run again immediately in 2010 or only in 2014. The supreme court is investigating whether 86 lawmakers violated legislative procedure when they voted in favor of the referendum, a probe that could complicate its passage to the next step in the constitutional court.
An aerial view of the active Galeras volcano near Pasto city is seen in this file photo taken May 17, 2009. Colombia's Galeras volcano erupted on June 8, 2009 for the ...
