Congressional Election Held Amid High Security

Colombians embittered by rebel violence voted under heavy security, electing a new Congress that could be called on to give the U.S.-backed military bigger budgets and a freer hand to combat leftist insurgents.

With nearly all precincts reporting, candidates representing a broad spectrum were poised to take seats in the two-chamber legislature--from former guerrillas to traditional party politicians to an ex-general urging a tough tack with the rebels.

The winners included several hard-line candidates associated with Alvaro Uribe, a former state governor whose strong anti-rebel rhetoric has won him a huge lead in polls ahead of May’s presidential election.