Colombia to enter "post-Uribe" era

BOGOTA.  Colombia's Constitutional Court ruled on Friday to reject a referendum that will allow President Alvaro Uribe to seek re-election.

The ruling, passed by a 7-2 vote in the court, effectively blocks the popular president from running for a third term in the country's presidential elections in May after serving two consecutive terms.

Uribe, who hasn't yet confirmed his second re-election bid, immediately accepted the ruling.

"I accept and respect the decision of the constitutional court," he told reporters.