Colombia probing plots against president, arrests Venezuelans: foreign minister

BOGOTA (Reuters) - Colombian authorities are investigating possible plots to assassinate President Ivan Duque that may involve Venezuelan nationals arrested carrying "weapons of war," Foreign Minister Carlos Holmes Trujillo said on Saturday.

Without providing details, Trujillo said in a video message that there was intelligence indicating the existence of "credible" plans to target the right-wing Duque, who took office in August.

Three Venezuelans were arrested in recent days with heavy weapons, he said.

"Intelligence investigations into possible attacks have been going on for several months," Trujillo said. "Added to that is the recent capture of three Venezuelan citizens found in possession of weapons of war, which further increases concerns."

Police and military sources told Reuters that on Dec. 21, two Venezuelan men were captured on a bus in the northern city of Valledupar carrying two 5.56 caliber rifles, and a third arrested days later was also armed.

http://www.foreigndesknews.com/news/politics/colombia-probing-plots-against/

Brazil’s president-elect plans decree allowing wider gun ownership

SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Brazil's far-right President-elect Jair Bolsonaro said on Saturday he plans to issue a decree allowing all Brazilians without criminal records to own firearms, welcome news to many core supporters who want him to loosen Brazil's strict gun laws.

Throughout his campaign, Bolsonaro had pledged to dismantle Brazil's current gun legislation, which presents various bureaucratic and legal obstacles for people seeking to purchase firearms. That message appealed to many Brazilians who want to use guns for self-defense amid sky-high levels of violent crime.

"By decree, we plan to guarantee the ownership of firearms by citizens without criminal records," Bolsonaro, who takes office on Jan. 1, wrote on Twitter on Saturday.

He did not provide additional details and it was not immediately clear what mechanisms Bolsonaro would have at his disposal to carry out such a decree, or what specific measures the decree would contain. Brazil's Congress is already discussing measures to loosen gun control laws.

http://www.foreigndesknews.com/news/politics/brazils-president-elect-plans-decree/