John McCain (L) and his wife Cindy (C), are received by Colombian President Alvaro Uribe (R) in Cartagena, 01 Jul 2008

Republican U.S. presidential candidate John McCain has praised Colombia's efforts to combat drug trafficking and leftist guerrillas, while urging the government to improve its human rights record.

McCain met for nearly two hours with Colombian President Alvaro Uribe Tuesday in the Colombian city Cartagena. The lawmaker is visiting the South American nation and Mexico this week to highlight his support for free trade agreements, and highlight his foreign policy credentials.

The free-trade agreement between the U.S. and Colombia is stalled in the Democratic-controlled U.S. Congress, due to concerns over the murders of trade unionists. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is among those opposed to the deal.

McCain has said blocking the agreement would set back economic and security interests.

McCain says he and Mr. Uribe did not discuss Obama during their meeting, saying the campaign "ends at the water's edge."

The presumptive Republican nominee will travel to Mexico later Wednesday, for talks with President Felipe Calderon on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the Obama campaign says the presumptive Democratic nominee will visit Jordan, Israel, Germany, France and the United Kingdom. The campaign did not say if Obama planned to visit Iraq and Afghanistan. The campaign did not offer specific travel dates.

Obama has said the trip will give him an opportunity to assess the situations in countries critical to U.S. national security and consult with friends and allies about common challenges. McCain has criticized Obama's foreign policy views and experience.