BOGOTA, March 9 (Xinhuanet) -- The Colombian government refused Wednesday to accept the resignation of its ambassador to the United Nations, Maria Holguin, who has been accused of nepotism.

    Last Monday, the diplomat presented her resignation to President Alvaro Uribe, but the head of State and Foreign MinisterCarolina Barco decided not to accept it.

    The presentation of Holguin's resignation occurred after it wasdenounced through local media that the children of three ex-presidents of the Senate had been appointed as advisers or attaches in the Embassy to the United Nations, and that soon the daughter of another former legislators was going to be appointed.

    Holguin, who was ambassador to Venezuela until 2004, was vice foreign minister from 1994 to 1998. Enditem