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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| Top Farc leader killed by troops | Top Farc leader killed by troops |
| (about 6 hours 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 16 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, 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 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. | 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. |
| Aura of invincibility | Aura of invincibility |
| Colombian President Alvaro Uribe had telephoned Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa to discuss the operation. | Colombian President Alvaro Uribe had telephoned Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa to discuss the operation. |
| "The Colombian Air Force proceeded to attack the camp from the Colombian side (of the border)," he said. | "The Colombian Air Force proceeded to attack the camp from the Colombian side (of the border)," he said. |
| Send us your views class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/7273320.stm">Aura shattered | |
| "Once the camp was bombarded, Colombian forces were ordered in to secure the area and neutralize the enemy." | "Once the camp was bombarded, Colombian forces were ordered in to secure the area and neutralize the enemy." |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| He had joined the rebel group from the Communist party in the 1970s. | He had joined the rebel group from the Communist party in the 1970s. |
| Hostage releases | Hostage releases |
| With the ageing of Farc's leader, Manuel "Sureshot" Marulanda, Reyes had frequently been mentioned as a potential successor. | 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 | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |