Madrid - Colombian President Alvaro Uribe was Wednesday awarded a Spanish prize for his fight against terrorism amid protests by his critics.

Uribe described his security policy against guerrilla movements as "the road to peace and freedom" on receiving the award, granted by the city of Cadiz, in presence of Crown Prince Felipe and his wife Letizia at the Colombian embassy in Madrid.

Representatives of about 150 groups protested the ceremony in Cadiz, saying it was staged in Madrid to avoid demonstrations and accusing Uribe of handing power over to the military.

Uribe also met Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, King Juan Carlos and entrepreneurs during his two-day working visit to Spain.

Zapatero pledged Spanish support to Colombia's fight against drug trafficking and attempts to achieve peace with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). (dpa)