By Hugh Bronstein BOGOTA, March 30 (Reuters) - Colombian President Alvaro Uribe's chances of winning a reform to run for a third term are rising, helped by his impressive approval ratings and the weak field of candidates to replace him. Seen as a hero by many Colombians for going on the attack against Marxist guerrillas widely despised for their use of kidnapping, Uribe's government has intensified lobbying for a change in law that would allow him to seek another term in May, 2010. Although there is concern about the damage a third Uribe term might do to democratic checks and balances, his popularity stands at around 70 percent and no serious rivals have emerged. Fewer lawmakers appear willing to stand in Uribe's way for fear of being voted out themselves in legislative elections next March. "There has been an increase in the number of votes in Congress favoring re-election in 2010," said Nicolas Uribe, a member of the lower house who is not related to the president. "Members of Congress who do not support the president know they will be punished by their constituents," he said. "That's the political reality." The Senate next month will debate a measure calling for a referendum to ask voters if they want to change the constitution to clear the way for another Uribe campaign. "I have no doubt that the government has the votes it needs in the Senate to pass the bill," said Senator Armando Benedetti, sponsor of the proposal calling for a 2010 run. He predicted that the lower House will go along with the measure now that Cambio Radical, or the Radical Change party, has decided to back Uribe rather than its own party chief German Vargas for the presidency next year. STRONG HAND AGAINST REBELS Uribe, whose father was killed two decades ago in a botched kidnapping by Marxist FARC guerrillas, has won strong support by weakening the rebels with help from U.S. military aid. He easily won a second term in 2006 after the law was changed to allow one re-election, and Colombian politics are again dominated by his effort to extend his time in power. The Eurasia Group consultancy has increased the probability that Uribe will seek and win a third term to 55 percent from 30 percent. It says there has been a "remarkable turnaround" in favor of re-election, although it poses risks to Colombia's democracy. Opposition parties agree. "It is clear that Uribe is using all the tools at his disposal to get re-elected next year," said Senator Juan Manuel Galan. "But that would be very dangerous for our political system in terms of one man having too much power." The strongest alternative candidates, such as Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos, vow to carry on Uribe's policies. Another hopeful is Felipe Arias, a former agriculture minister who echoes Uribe's ideas, combs his hair the same way, speaks with the same Medellin accent and wears the same style of glasses. "But if you have the original, why go for a copy?" said one lawmaker who supports the proposal to allow a third term. Colombia's economy started shrinking late last year as the global crisis began to bite, and a prolonged economic crisis could cut into Uribe's support. "It is logical that the economy will weaken Uribe's popularity, but he has defied logic before," said one member of Congress who asked not to be named. "I am not in favor of re-election," the lawmaker said. "But if 70 percent of my constituents are, I can't vote against a bill that does nothing more than call a referendum to ask voters of they want to change the law to let him run." (Editing by Kieran Murray)
A DC-10 plane is parked at Jose Maria Cordoba airport in Rionegro near Medellin March 27, 2009. A turbine engine fell off the DC-10 cargo plane, belonging to U.S.-based Arrow Cargo, ...
