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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Body of Colombian governor found | Body of Colombian governor found |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Colombian authorities say the kidnapped governor of southern Caqueta province has been found dead. | Colombian authorities say the kidnapped governor of southern Caqueta province has been found dead. |
| Luis Francisco Cuellar had been seized from his house in the provincial capital, Florencia, by suspected leftist rebels on Monday. | Luis Francisco Cuellar had been seized from his house in the provincial capital, Florencia, by suspected leftist rebels on Monday. |
| Officials said was the kidnap was the work of left-wing Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) guerrillas. | Officials said was the kidnap was the work of left-wing Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) guerrillas. |
| Mr Cuellar was the most high profile politician abducted since President Alvaro Uribe came to power in 2002. | Mr Cuellar was the most high profile politician abducted since President Alvaro Uribe came to power in 2002. |
| His body was found hours after Mr Uribe said every effort would be made to secure his release. | His body was found hours after Mr Uribe said every effort would be made to secure his release. |
| "Unfortunately we have to accept this painful reality," said acting governor Patricia Vega. | "Unfortunately we have to accept this painful reality," said acting governor Patricia Vega. |
| "I no longer have any doubts that Farc has done it again," she told Caracol radio. | "I no longer have any doubts that Farc has done it again," she told Caracol radio. |
| Mr Cuellar had been bound and gagged with several bullet wounds. Explosives had been placed around his body. | |
| Officials said Mr Cuellar appeared to have been killed soon after he was taken from his home by gunmen carrying grenades. | Officials said Mr Cuellar appeared to have been killed soon after he was taken from his home by gunmen carrying grenades. |
| One policeman was killed in the attack and two more wounded. | One policeman was killed in the attack and two more wounded. |
| Earlier, Mr Uribe said Colombia "cannot be held captive by the whim of terrorists, terrorists who bathe the country in blood and who trick us everyday". | Earlier, Mr Uribe said Colombia "cannot be held captive by the whim of terrorists, terrorists who bathe the country in blood and who trick us everyday". |
| The Associated Press news agency said 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 said Mr Cuellar had been kidnapped four times in the past 23 years, for between two and seven months each time. |
| Speaking before the body was found, his wife told AP a ransom had been paid to secure his release on previous occasions. | Speaking before the body was found, his wife told AP a ransom had been paid to secure his release on previous occasions. |
| 'Weakening' | 'Weakening' |
| 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. |
| The Farc has not claimed responsibility for the kidnapping but is widely thought to have been behind it. | The Farc has not claimed responsibility for the kidnapping but is widely thought to have been behind it. |
| 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 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 Farc has suffered several defeats at the hands of conservative Mr Uribe's security forces. | The Farc has suffered several defeats at the hands of conservative Mr Uribe's security forces. |
| 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. | 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. |
| The BBC's Jeremy McDermott in Medellin said the movement has rallied under new leadership in recent years and appears to be seeking to regain the initiative in the country's 45-year civil conflict. | The BBC's Jeremy McDermott in Medellin said the movement has rallied under new leadership in recent years and appears to be seeking to regain the initiative in the country's 45-year civil conflict. |
| 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. | 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. | Mr Silva said the Colombian government was "firm in its resolve to confront" the rebels. |