By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

          BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) -- Three more Colombian congressmen
          were reported kidnapped Wednesday, the latest in a string of political
          abductions on the eve of elections this weekend.

          The abductions of Sen. Antonio Guerra and representatives Anibal
          Monterrosa and Luis Felipe Villegas brought to eight the number of
          lawmakers and candidates kidnapped since Saturday, officials said.

          The government condemned the kidnappings, but says it has no plans to
          cancel Sunday's nationwide gubernatorial, mayoral and town council
          elections.

          Leftist guerrillas and rival rightist paramilitary groups are suspected in the
          abductions, which illustrate the growing lawlessness in this South
          American country, a growing recipient of U.S. military aid.

          Neither armed faction has claimed responsibility publicly.

          Almost all of the politicians taken hostage are from the left-center
          opposition Liberal Party. Government forces are not suspected.

          Authorities speculate paramilitary groups are behind most of the
          kidnappings, perhaps to pressure Congress against pending legislation
          permitting a swap of war prisoners between the government and the
          guerrillas.

          In the latest abduction, armed men snatched Guerra, Monterrosa and
          Villegas Tuesday night from a vehicle near Tolu, a town in northern Sucre
          state located some 340 miles from the capital, Bogota.

          ``We are very surprised this happened because we had not received any
          threats,'' Jose Guerra, the senator's brother, told reporters.

          Two lawmakers kidnapped over the weekend in northern Cordoba state
          are apparently being held by the United Self Defense Forces of
          Colombia, a national paramilitary umbrella group, officials have said.

          Authorities had no information yet on who was holding a senator and a
          state assemblymen who disappeared Sunday in northwest Antioquia
          state. The leftist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia was
          suspected in the kidnapping Monday of a gubernatorial candidate in
          northern Choco state.

          ``These kidnappings put at risk not only the life of the members of
          Congress, but the entire democratic process,'' federal human rights
          ombudsman Eduardo Cifuentes said Wednesday.