MANAGUA, Nicaragua (AP) -- U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell will
                  visit Nicaragua this week to discuss President Enrique Bolanos'
                  campaign to stamp out government corruption and get a firsthand look at
                  the country's fight against drug-trafficking, local media reported Sunday.

                  A foreign ministry spokesman said the trip was "still not confirmed," and an official at
                  the U.S. Embassy in Nicaragua sa id that if Powell was to travel to Nicaragua, "he
                  would only spend a few hours in Managua."

                  But Managua's La Prensa, the country's largest and most-respected newspaper,
                  said Powell was interested in discussing issues of national security that included
                  Nicaragua's efforts to combat the smuggling of illegal drugs, guns and immigrants.
                  The paper cited unnamed sources in Managua and Washington in reporting that the
                  trip was scheduled for November 11.

                  In August, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Otto Reich visited Nicaragua and met with
                  Bolanos, telling him that both Powell and U.S. President George W. Bush applauded
                  his campaign to end corruption in a government infamous for it.

                  Bolanos has been at the forefront of efforts to try ex-president Arnoldo Aleman on
                  charges he stole US$ 100 million in public funds during his presidency, which ended
                  in January.

                  The investigation has split the country's ruling Liberal Constitutionalist Party between
                  those who support Aleman and those who support Bolanos, who was Aleman's vice
                  president.

                  At the end of his visit, Reich signed an agreement under which the United States
                  pledged to give Nicaragua US$ 1.8 million "to strengthen democracy and eliminate
                  corruption."

                  Political analyst Roberto Cajina said Powell's visit would be "much more significant"
                  that Reich's.

                  "This would signify the backing of the number one official in United States foreign
                  policy," Cajina said.
 
 

                  Copyright 2002 The Associated Press.