Cartagena, Colombia (AP) Republican presidential candidate John McCain says he's urged Colombia's president to do better on human rights.

McCain also praised President Alvaro Uribe's efforts to stabilize the country and reduce the flow of drugs into the United States.

McCain met for nearly two hours with Uribe at the president's seaside mansion Tuesday. The candidate says human rights progress is being made.

McCain, who is on a three-day visit to Colombia and Mexico, is talking up various hemispheric trade agreements.

His democratic opponent, Barack Obama, opposes a free trade deal with Colombia. It's stalled in the house amid concerns about continuing intimidation and violence against labor leaders in the country.