Soccer star shot dead

A former Colombia striker Albeiro Usuriaga has been shot dead by gunmen in a popular nightclub district in the western Colombian city of Cali.

Usuriaga, 37, was with friends in the city’s October 12 district when several gunmen opened fire on him. He was rushed to hospital where he later died of bullet wounds, said Cali police chief Mario Gutierrez.

Usuriaga helped Colombia qualify for the 1990 World Cup in Italy but was dropped from the team before the start of the tournament in a discipline row.

During his career, Usuriaga played for Spain’s Malaga, Independiente of Argentina and Colombia's Atletico Nacional.