World IN BRIEF : COLOMBIA : New President Plans Special Drug Courts

President-elect Cesar Gaviria wants to create special courts modeled on Italian anti-Mafia tribunals and provide heavy security for judges to hear drug cases involving Colombia’s powerful cocaine cartels. Gaviria, who was elected Sunday, has promised a tough war on drug traffickers after he takes office in August. Speaking to reporters after talks with outgoing President Virgilio Barco Vargas, Gaviria also said he plans to reorganize the country’s intelligence services to make the fight against drug trafficking more effective. Since 1977, at least 46 judges have been assassinated in Colombia. The U.S. State Department has arranged meetings between Italian anti-Mafia judges and Colombian officials to discuss ways to create the special courts.