Uribe denounces investigation via Twitter

• Tweet

BOGOTA, Jan. 9 (UPI) -- Former Colombian President Alvaro Uribe has taken to the Twitterverse to denounce an investigation into allegations he helped start paramilitary groups.

Members of two demobilized paramilitary groups have testified against him, Colombia Reports said Wednesday.

Charging the groups had been "manipulated," Uribe tweeted Tuesday that "since last week I [have] denounced an investigation against me due to the slander of imprisoned criminals."

A previous case against Uribe was dismissed for lack of evidence after testimony from the groups was excluded, but prosecutors were recently successful in getting a court to allow the testimony.

Uribe is alleged to have been involved with paramilitary groups while he was governor of Antioquia.

House Representative Ivan Cepeda had pushed for the investigation to be reopened after collecting testimony from members of the groups.

Dozens of people loyal to Uribe, including family members, have been convicted of having links to paramilitary groups.