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Troops kill senior Farc leader Troops kill senior Farc leader
(about 1 hour later)
A top commander of Colombia's left-wing guerrillas, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), has been killed, the government says. A top commander of Colombia's left-wing guerrillas the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) has been killed in combat, the government says.
Defence Minister Juan Manuel Santos told reporters Raul Reyes had been killed in combat. Colombia's Defence Minister described the death of Raul Reyes as the "biggest blow so far" to Farc.
He died with other rebels during an attack on the town of Tetey, local radio reported. Reyes, 59, also known as Luis Edgar Devia, is the first member of Farc's ruling secretariat to be killed in combat in the group's 44-year history.
Also known as Luis Edgar Devia, Reyes was one of seven members of Farc's secretariat, and the group's spokesman. He died with 17 other rebels during an attack near the Ecuadorian border.
Colombian President Alvaro Uribe has received billions of dollars in aid to fight the rebels from the US administration, which along with the EU views Farc as a terrorist organisation. Reyes was killed in an air raid followed by a ground operation that left 18 guerrillas dead, Defence Minister Juan Manuel Santos said on Saturday.
The rebels had been on the Ecuadorian side of the border, across from the province of Putumayo, when the attack was called in, so permission had been gained from Ecuadorian President Rafael Correo Delgado before the strike went ahead, Mr Santos said.
International spokesman
The BBC's Jeremy McDermott, in Medellin, says the military defeat of the Farc has been a corner-stone of President Alvaro Uribe's administration since he came to power in 2002.
The killing of a leading figure within Farc's secretariat, whose members are renowned for dying peacefully in old age, means the group's aura of invincibility has evaporated, our correspondent adds.
Farc has been involved in conflict in Colombia for four decades
As well as being on Farc's seven-member secretariat, Reyes acted as the group's international spokesman and had led Farc's negotiating team in unsuccessful peace talks that began in 2002.
Colombia's government has received billions of dollars in aid to fight the rebels from the US administration, which along with the EU, views Farc as a terrorist organisation.
While Colombian troops have recently retaken control of areas previously held by rebel groups, the rebels retain a strong hold over Colombia's more remote regions.While Colombian troops have recently retaken control of areas previously held by rebel groups, the rebels retain a strong hold over Colombia's more remote regions.
Despite recent hostage releases brokered by Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez, scores of hostages - including the French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt - are still being held by the rebel group.Despite recent hostage releases brokered by Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez, scores of hostages - including the French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt - are still being held by the rebel group.