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Colombian Farc rebels arrested 'over deadly army ambush' | Colombian Farc rebels arrested 'over deadly army ambush' |
(about 3 hours later) | |
The Colombian army has arrested 12 Farc rebels accused of killing 15 soldiers in an ambush near the border with Venezuela on Saturday, President Juan Manuel Santos has said. | |
Mr Santos ordered more troops to the Arauca region and told them to respond forcefully to the killings. | |
He is expected to announce new security measures for the region. | |
The government and the Farc are currently holding talks in Cuba to end more than five decades of conflict. | |
The incident happened in a rural part of Arauca known as El Mordisco, when more than 70 Farc rebels attacked a group of 26 soldiers guarding an oil pipeline. | |
Six rebels are also reported to have died in Saturday's attack. | |
Earlier reports had put the number of dead soldiers at 17. | |
In a separate incident in south-west Colombia, clashes killed four soldiers and several Farc fighters. | |
Mr Santos, who has gone to the Arauca region for a security summit in the town of Tame, said he was intent on ending the violence, which he described as plain terrorism. | |
"These are the instructions to our forces: don't stop shooting for even a moment until we reach the end of this conflict," he said. | |
"All of Colombia must work for peace precisely so that incidents like those that occurred in the last 24 hours never happen again." | |
Peace talks in Havana should continue as normal, he added. | |
Committed to peace? | Committed to peace? |
The talks, which started in November, represent the fourth attempt at a negotiated peace deal since the beginning of the conflict in the early 1960s. | |
The rebels have called for a ceasefire during the negotiations, but the government has rejected it, arguing it would only provide the opportunity for the Farc to rearm and regroup. | The rebels have called for a ceasefire during the negotiations, but the government has rejected it, arguing it would only provide the opportunity for the Farc to rearm and regroup. |
The last attempt to achieve peace collapsed in 2002, when it became clear that the rebels had become stronger during more three years of negotiations under a ceasefire. | The last attempt to achieve peace collapsed in 2002, when it became clear that the rebels had become stronger during more three years of negotiations under a ceasefire. |
Earlier the Farc said it had captured a former US soldier and was willing to release him to prove its commitment to the peace process. | Earlier the Farc said it had captured a former US soldier and was willing to release him to prove its commitment to the peace process. |
In a statement, the rebels named the man as Kevin Scott Sutay and said he had been taken on 20 June in El Retorno in the southern Guaviare Department. | In a statement, the rebels named the man as Kevin Scott Sutay and said he had been taken on 20 June in El Retorno in the southern Guaviare Department. |
The US has denied he was on any form of military operation, saying he was in the area as a tourist and had "nothing to do with Colombia's internal conflict". | The US has denied he was on any form of military operation, saying he was in the area as a tourist and had "nothing to do with Colombia's internal conflict". |
The Farc are thought to have some 8,000 fighters, down from about 16,000 in 2001. | The Farc are thought to have some 8,000 fighters, down from about 16,000 in 2001. |
The government estimates that 600,000 people have been killed since the conflict began with some three million more internally displaced by the fighting. | The government estimates that 600,000 people have been killed since the conflict began with some three million more internally displaced by the fighting. |
On Monday, the Farc's chief peace negotiator said the conflict was nearing its end. | On Monday, the Farc's chief peace negotiator said the conflict was nearing its end. |
Ivan Marquez, who is taking part in the talks in Cuba, called on left-wing parties and unions to join the effort to achieve peace. | Ivan Marquez, who is taking part in the talks in Cuba, called on left-wing parties and unions to join the effort to achieve peace. |
The government wants to sign a peace accord by November. But Mr Marquez warned against rushing into a settlement. | The government wants to sign a peace accord by November. But Mr Marquez warned against rushing into a settlement. |