Thousands march for Bogota mayor

Thousands of people have massed in Bogota's main square to support the Colombian capital's leftist mayor, who was ousted this week for trying to fire private contractors.

Some of the demonstrators on Friday evening viewed Mayor Gustavo Petro's dismissal as a blow to the country's attempts to make peace with its main leftist rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

"[Petro was] the only leader who has worked on behalf of the poor," said Adelmo Martinez, a 48-year-old schoolteacher.

Petro, a former member of the M-19 rebel movement, has also been barred from elected office for 15 years by Colombia's inspector-general, a conservative ally of former President Alvaro Uribe.

Petro had alienated many since taking office last year with a high-handed, aloof style, and Inspector-General Alejandro Ordonez accused him of overreaching constitutionally.

As a senator, Petro led investigations that uncovered collusion between far-right militias and Uribe allies, helping to send dozens of officials to prison.