New Colombian President Mr Alvaro Uribe has declared a state of emergency to fight what the government described as a "regime of terror" following a surge of war violence.
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Mr Alvaro Uribe has declared a state of emergency.
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He decreed an emergency tax to allow the government raise $778.5 million to fund a military build-up.
Mr Uribe took office last week as a salvo of leftist rebel mortar shells in Bogota killed 20 civilians.
"The government has decided tonight to declare the state of emergency," Interior and Justice Minister Mr Fernando Londono told reporters during a news conference in the capital Bogota. He did not say what the state of emergency would entail.
The measures, effective immediately, were announced early today after a day-long cabinet meeting called to discuss the violence that has killed 100 since Mr Uribe took office.