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Troops kill senior Farc leader Top Farc leader killed by troops
(about 1 hour later)
A top commander of Colombia's left-wing guerrillas the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) has been killed in combat, 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.
Colombia's Defence Minister described the death of Raul Reyes as the "biggest blow so far" to Farc.Colombia's Defence Minister described the death of Raul Reyes as the "biggest blow so far" to Farc.
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.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.
He died with 17 other rebels during an attack near the Ecuadorian border. He died with 16 other rebels during an attack near the Ecuadorian border.
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. Reyes was killed in an air raid followed by a ground operation, 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. The rebels had been in a camp 1.8km (1 mile) on the Ecuadorian side of the border across from the province of Putumayo when the attack was called in, Mr Santos said.
International spokesman Aura of invincibility
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. Colombian President Alvaro Uribe had telephoned Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa to discuss the operation.
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. "The Colombian Air Force proceeded to attack the camp from the Colombian side (of the border)," he said.
Farc has been involved in conflict in Colombia for four decades "Once the camp was bombarded, Colombian forces were ordered in to secure the area and neutralize the enemy."
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. The BBC's Jeremy McDermott, in Medellin, says the military defeat of the Farc has been a corner-stone of President Uribe's administration since he came to power 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. The killing of such a leading figure within Farc's secretariat, whose members are renowned for dying of natural causes, means the group's aura of invincibility has evaporated, our correspondent adds.
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. 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 during the failed three-year peace process with the previous government of Andres Pastrana.
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. He had joined the rebel group from the Communist party in the 1970s.
Hostage releases
With the ageing of Farc's leader, Manuel "Sureshot" Marulanda, Reyes had frequently been mentioned as a potential successor.
Farc has been involved in conflict in Colombia for four decades Farc in the limelightQ&A: Rebel hostages
His death comes as Mr Uribe was coming under pressure to make concessions to the rebels after Farc released four hostages earlier this week, our correspondent says.
Despite the releases, which were 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.
Colombia's government has received billions of dollars in aid to fight the guerrillas 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, Farc retains a strong hold over Colombia's more remote regions.