Colombia on Saturday named General Freddy Padilla as its new minister of defense, a post which will put the current head of the armed forces squarely in charge of the fight against drug and rebel groups. Padilla will retain his current post while taking over the defense portfolio from Juan Manuel Santos, who recently resigned to prepare a possible run ...

Colombia's defense minister resigned on Monday, saying he will launch a presidential bid if current President Alvaro Uribe decides not to seek a third term. Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos, who has received credit for some of the military's biggest successes against leftist rebels ...