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Abducted Colombia governor killed Abducted Colombia governor killed
(40 minutes later)
Colombian authorities say the kidnapped governor of southern Caqueta province has been found dead. The governor of the southern Colombian province of Caqueta has been found dead less than a day after he was kidnapped by suspected rebels, authorities say.
President Alvaro Uribe said the kidnappers appeared to have cut Luis Francisco Cuellar's throat as they were being chased by security forces. President Alvaro Uribe said the kidnappers had cut Luis Francisco Cuellar's throat as they were being chased by security forces.
Mr Cuellar had been seized from his house in the provincial capital, Florencia, on Monday. Mr Cuellar was seized from his house on Monday in the provincial capital.
Officials said the attack was the work of left-wing Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) guerrillas. Officials are blaming the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) guerrillas for his killing.
Mr Cuellar was the most high profile politician abducted since Mr Uribe came to power in 2002. Mr Cuellar was the most high-profile politician abducted since Mr Uribe came to power in 2002.
Mr Cuellar had been kidnapped several times beforeMr Cuellar had been kidnapped several times before
"The terrorists burned the vehicle in which they kidnapped the governor, further ahead they killed him, they slit his throat, they killed him miserably," said Mr Uribe, in a nationally televised address. "The terrorists burned the vehicle in which they kidnapped the governor, further ahead they killed him, they slit his throat, they killed him miserably," said President Uribe, in a nationally televised address.
"They slit his throat to avoid making noise because they knew that the armed forces were in the surrounding area."They slit his throat to avoid making noise because they knew that the armed forces were in the surrounding area.
"In the midst of pain we reiterate today all our determination to defeat these terrorists.""In the midst of pain we reiterate today all our determination to defeat these terrorists."
Earlier, he had said Colombia could not be "held captive by the whim of terrorists, terrorists who bathe the country in blood and who trick us every day". Earlier, Mr Uribe, whose father was killed in 1983 during a botched kidnapping by rebels, had said Colombia could not be "held captive by the whim of terrorists, terrorists who bathe the country in blood and who trick us every day".
RansomRansom
Mr Cuellar was taken from his home by about 10 gunmen, who lobbed grenades at the building. One policeman was killed in the attack and two more were wounded.Mr Cuellar was taken from his home by about 10 gunmen, who lobbed grenades at the building. One policeman was killed in the attack and two more were wounded.
Profiles: Colombia's armed groups Q&A: Colombia's civil conflictProfiles: Colombia's armed groups Q&A: Colombia's civil conflict
More than 2,000 military personnel had been deployed in the search for the kidnappers.More than 2,000 military personnel had been deployed in the search for the kidnappers.
The authorities had also offered 1bn pesos ($500,000; £312,000) to anyone giving information leading to Mr Cuellar's safe return.The authorities had also offered 1bn pesos ($500,000; £312,000) to anyone giving information leading to Mr Cuellar's safe return.
But his body was found hours later, close to a burnt-out vehicle on a road about 15km (9 miles) outside Florencia.But his body was found hours later, close to a burnt-out vehicle on a road about 15km (9 miles) outside Florencia.
He had been bound and gagged and had several bullet wounds in his body. Explosives had been placed around him.He had been bound and gagged and had several bullet wounds in his body. Explosives had been placed around him.
The search operation is continuing, but the focus is now on catching or killing the abductors, says the BBC's Jeremy McDermott in Medellin. It remains unclear whether the kidnappers initially intended to kill Mr Cuellar, says the BBC's Jeremy McDermott in Colombia.
But it remains unclear whether the kidnappers initially intended to kill Mr Cuellar, says our correspondent. In the past, high-profile figures have been kidnapped to try to force the government to make prisoner exchanges.
In the past, high profile figures have been kidnapped in order to force the government to make prisoner exchanges. Mr Cuellar had previously been kidnapped four times in the past 23 years, but for ransom, his wife told the Associated Press news agency.
Mr Cuellar had been kidnapped four times in the past 23 years, for between two and seven months each time, the Associated Press news agency reported.
Speaking before the body was found, his wife told AP a ransom had been paid to secure his release on previous occasions.
SetbackSetback
Caqueta has been a stronghold of the Farc - Colombia's oldest and largest left-wing rebel group - for many years.Caqueta has been a stronghold of the Farc - Colombia's oldest and largest left-wing rebel group - for many years.
Mr Uribe's father was killed during a kidnap attempt by rebels Mr Uribe has pursued a hard line against the guerrillas
It was where French-Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt was kidnapped in 2002.It was where French-Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt was kidnapped in 2002.
The Farc has not claimed responsibility for the attack on Mr Cuellar, but is widely thought to have been behind it.The Farc has not claimed responsibility for the attack on Mr Cuellar, but is widely thought to have been behind it.
The acting governor of Caqueta, Patricia Vega, told local media she had no doubt that Farc was behind the attack. The acting governor of Caqueta, Patricia Vega, told local media she had no doubt that the Farc was responsible.
The rurally-based organisation, which finances itself through drugs trafficking, was once thought to have some 16,000 fighters, but reports suggest it now has about 9,000. The guerrillas, who finance their operations through drugs trafficking, were thought to number some 16,000 fighters, but reports suggest their ranks have fallen to about 9,000.
Our correspondent says the murder of Mr Cuellar will be a real setback for conservative Mr Uribe's determination to defeat the Farc. They suffered a series of defeats at the hands of the security forces in 2008, but the rebels appear to have rallied under new leadership and to be seeking to regain the initiative in the country's 45-year civil conflict, our correspondent says.
The movement was thought to have been severely depleted after suffering several defeats at the hands of the security forces, but it appears to have rallied under new leadership and to be seeking to regain the initiative in the country's 45-year civil conflict. Attacks and kidnappings have lessened, but the guerrillas are still holding more than 20 police officers and soldiers, often referred to as high-profile hostages, who were seized more than a decade ago.
Incidences of attacks and kidnappings have lessened, but the rebels are still holding more than 20 police officers and soldiers, often referred to as high-profile hostages, who were seized more than a decade ago.
It is also believed to have kidnapped hundreds of other people, mainly for ransom, over the years.It is also believed to have kidnapped hundreds of other people, mainly for ransom, over the years.
On Tuesday, Colombian Defence Minister Gabriel Silva said the attack showed that "narco-terrorists" were making an effort to "show their capacity", but that their strength was weakening. .
Mr Silva said the Colombian government was "firm in its resolve to confront" the rebels.