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Colombian troops killed in ambush | Colombian troops killed in ambush |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Seven Colombian soldiers have been killed and four wounded in an ambush by left-wing rebels in the south-west of the country. | Seven Colombian soldiers have been killed and four wounded in an ambush by left-wing rebels in the south-west of the country. |
Rebels from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) launched the attack overnight between Saturday and Sunday, a regional official said. | Rebels from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) launched the attack overnight between Saturday and Sunday, a regional official said. |
It came just over a week after the Farc killed eight soldiers in the north-east, near the border with Venezuela. | It came just over a week after the Farc killed eight soldiers in the north-east, near the border with Venezuela. |
The attacks are seen evidence that the group is not a spent force. | The attacks are seen evidence that the group is not a spent force. |
Fabio Trujillo, a top official in Narino region, confirmed the ambush in the rural district of Samaniego. | |
An explosive device was set off at almost the same time near the police quarters, wounding two officers, he said. | An explosive device was set off at almost the same time near the police quarters, wounding two officers, he said. |
President Alvaro Uribe condemned the attack. | President Alvaro Uribe condemned the attack. |
Safe havens | Safe havens |
The Farc has suffered a series of reversals recently, including the death of leader and founder Manuel Marulanda last year. | The Farc has suffered a series of reversals recently, including the death of leader and founder Manuel Marulanda last year. |
But the BBC's Jeremy McDermott in Colombia says the rebels appear to be regrouping and retaking the initiative after six years on the back foot. | But the BBC's Jeremy McDermott in Colombia says the rebels appear to be regrouping and retaking the initiative after six years on the back foot. |
The new leader, Alfonso Cano, has given the Farc a new vision, he says, directing the rebels towards urban centres and launching more rural ambushes. | The new leader, Alfonso Cano, has given the Farc a new vision, he says, directing the rebels towards urban centres and launching more rural ambushes. |
Both this weekend's attack and the one in the north-east late last month happened near Colombia's borders. | Both this weekend's attack and the one in the north-east late last month happened near Colombia's borders. |
The rebels are using the border areas as safe havens from which to plan and execute attacks, out of reach of the security forces, our correspondent says. | The rebels are using the border areas as safe havens from which to plan and execute attacks, out of reach of the security forces, our correspondent says. |
Narino, near Colombia's border with Ecuador, is also home to the densest concentration of drug crops in the country. | Narino, near Colombia's border with Ecuador, is also home to the densest concentration of drug crops in the country. |
The Farc and other armed groups have profited from the drug trade in Colombia, the world's largest producer of cocaine. | The Farc and other armed groups have profited from the drug trade in Colombia, the world's largest producer of cocaine. |
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