[NYTr] Colombian Army 'Kills Rebel Head'
 
Date: Wed, 5 Sep 2007 17:21:13 -0500 (CDT)


Via NY Transfer News Collective  *  All the News that Doesn't Fit
 
BBC News - Sep 4, 2007
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6977189.stm 

Colombian Army 'Kills Rebel Head'  

The Colombian army says it has killed a leading member of the country's
largest left-wing guerrilla group, the Farc, during an assault against
rebel troops. The Colombian defence minister described the death of
Tomas Medina Caracas as the biggest blow ever to the group's logistical
capacity. 

Medina was said to control the Farc's drugs and weapons-smuggling
operations. 

The news comes as Venezuelan President, Hugo Chavez, is mediating
between the government and the Farc. 

The Colombian Defence Minister, Juan Manuel Santos, said Tomas Medina
Caracas, nicknamed "El Negro Acacio" (The Black Acacia), was killed
with 16 other guerrillas in an army raid on his jungle camp. 

"He was a key to Farc financing and support and controlled drug
trafficking and purchase of arms, explosives and munitions in the east
of the country," Mr Santos said at a press conference. 

Under President Alvaro Uribe, Colombia's armed forces have pushed the
FARC back into the jungles and violence from the 40-year conflict has
eased. 

But the rebels are still a potent force - 11 soldiers were killed in an
ambush at the weekend. 

Chavez mission 

The killing of Farc's leader comes as the left-wing President of
Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, who visited Colombia last week, agreed to
invite Colombian rebels to discuss a hostage release deal. 

Mr Chavez hopes to secure the release of hostages by the Farc in
exchange for rebels held by the authorities. 

There are fears that the killing of Tomas Medina Caceres could
complicate the mission undertaken by Mr Chavez. 

Meanwhile, a delegation of the Red Cross has travelled to a jungle
region in the west of Colombia to recover the bodies of 11 regional
politicians killed earlier this year by the Farc. 

Media reports in Colombia say the delegation has already taken custody
of the bodies, but there has been no word from the Red Cross yet. 

A family member of one of the politicians, Diego Quintero, told the BBC
he expected the bodies to be with the authorities by Tuesday. 

The politicians had been held hostage by the Farc for more than five
years. 
 
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