Fourteen warlords from far-right paramilitary militias suspected in Colombia of thousands of atrocities began court appearances Wednesday around the United States on drug trafficking charges. The 14 were extradited Tuesday and spread out over Miami, Tampa, Washington, Houston and New York for initial federal court appearances. They could face 30-year prison terms after the Bush administration agreed not to seek life sentences in exchange for extradition. Colombian President Alvaro Uribe said he decided to extradite the men because they were still committing crimes from Colombian prisons, not cooperating with authorities and had failed to pay restitution to victims.

The 14 include top leaders of the notorious militias blamed for modern Colombia's worst atrocities.

In Manhattan, Diego Murillo was ordered held without bond on a 2004 drug indictment and was placed in a special segregation unit at a U.S. jail normally reserved for prisoners who are a high security risk. One of his lawyers, Paul Nalven, declined to comment on the charges or extradition but said Murillo is not dangerous.

"I found him to be a very quiet, respectful guy," said Nalven, adding that Murillo has a prosthetic leg and a partially paralyzed face due to an assassination attempt. "He's not exactly someone who would tangle with corrections officers."

Prosecutors and defense attorneys in Miami agreed that Ramiro Vanoy Murillo, 60, and Francisco Zuluaga Lindo, 38, will be held without bail until trial. They are named in a 1999 indictment as participants in a huge cocaine smuggling ring responsible for bringing tons of the drug into the United States.

Defense attorney Dennis Urbano said he couldn't comment about the drug case because he had just agreed to represent both men.

Vanoy Murillo and Zuluaga Lindo, wearing tan prison jumpsuits and leg chains at their brief court hearing, said little other than to give their names and ages. U.S. Magistrate Judge William C. Turnoff set a June 4 date for the men to enter pleas and determine whether they have enough money untainted by drugs or other illegal activity to pay Urbano.

In Tampa, Guillermo Perez Alzate pleaded not guilty to a 2002 cocaine trafficking indictment and was ordered held without bail. Manuel Enrique Torregrosa Castro, made a brief appearance in Tampa but prosecutors said his case would be tried in Ocala. An arraignment date has not been set.

The others extradited were expected to appear elsewhere later Wednesday and Thursday.

The U.S. Treasury Department must approve such legal representation because the men are on a list that subjects their assets to seizure. Uribe said any assets seized as a result of U.S. prosecutions would go to compensate victims in Colombia. At least 160,000 people have registered there as victims.

Thousands of Colombians have lodged formal complaints of "atrocious crimes" against the paramilitaries - including murder, rape, forced disappearances and kidnapping. Hundreds of mass graves are thought to remain hidden in Colombia.

Much of the suffering was the direct result of orders given by the warlords now facing U.S. prosecution.

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Associated Press Writers David B. Caruso in New York and Anthony McCartney in Tampa contributed to this report.

Written By CURT ANDERSON

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