BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) --The U.S. ambassador ratcheted up criticism of the country's main rebel group Thursday, saying
the guerrillas were little more than drug traffickers and their "cynicism and hypocrisy" matched that of terror suspect Osama bin Laden.

Ambassador Anne Patterson spoke at a money laundering conference in Bogota after her announcement Wednesday that the United States would seek the extradition of leftist
guerrillas and right-wing paramilitary fighters involved in drug trafficking.

Just as "the Taliban regime and Osama bin Laden do not represent Islam", Patterson said "the terrorist and drug trafficking groups in Colombia show their cynicism and
hypocrisy when they say they are seeking social justice."

The escalating criticism adds pressure on President Andres Pastrana to firm up his stance toward the guerrillas, even as he tries to engage them in peace negotiations to end a
37-year conflict.

Pastrana has refrained from calling the guerrillas drug traffickers, despite ample evidence that they tax drug operations to finance their fight. He has accepted that they have a
legitimate political agenda, despite their drug ties and kidnappings.

But Patterson said Thursday that information from southern Putumayo state, where a massive U.S.-financed anti-drug effort is concentrated, proves the leftist Revolutionary
Armed Forces of Colombia "is a drug trafficking organization." Excerpts of her speech at the two-day conference were broadcast on local radio.

The rebel group known as the FARC, Colombia's largest, makes "several billion" dollars a year from drug trafficking, Patterson said.

There was no immediate reaction Thursday from either the government or the FARC.

Earlier Thursday, Justice Minister Romulo Gonzalez said Colombia's government is willing to consider any U.S. requests to extradite guerrillas or right-wing paramilitary
members for trial in the United States "just as we consider all such requests."

Extraditing rebels would be politically difficult for Pastrana. He has suspended arrest warrants against guerrilla leaders so that the peace talks can go forward.

Moreover, FARC leaders usually stay in a huge safe haven that Pastrana granted to the group three years ago, and from which government security forces are barred.

Pastrana travels to Washington and New York November 7-11. He will meet with Secretary of State Colin Powell and the extradition issue is certain to come up.

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