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Rebels hit Colombian police post Rebels hit Colombian police post
(about 5 hours later)
Farc rebels have attacked a Colombian police post killing 16 officers, security officials said. At least 17 people have been killed when left-wing Farc rebels attacked a Colombian police station, police officials have said.
A large force attacked a remote police station in northern Colombia's Cordoba province early on Wednesday. A large force attacked the remote police station in the northern Cordoba province early on Wednesday.
Army reinforcements helped beat off the attack, the deadliest since Alvaro Uribe was re-elected president in May.Army reinforcements helped beat off the attack, the deadliest since Alvaro Uribe was re-elected president in May.
Mr Uribe broke off negotiations with Farc over a possible prisoner exchange, blaming the rebels for a bombing in Bogota less than two weeks ago. Mr Uribe broke off talks with the Farc over a prisoner exchange, blaming the group for a recent Bogota bomb attack.
The rebels attacked the police station in the town of Tierradentro, about 230 miles (380km) northwest of the capital Bogota, with improvised mortars made from gas cylinders. More than 400 rebels attacked the police station in the town of Tierradentro, about 230 miles (380km) northwest of the capital, with improvised mortars made from gas cylinders.
"The Farc attacked the local population and a police post... a civilian and 16 police were killed as a result of this terrorist assault," Reuters news agency quoted Colombia's defence ministry as saying."The Farc attacked the local population and a police post... a civilian and 16 police were killed as a result of this terrorist assault," Reuters news agency quoted Colombia's defence ministry as saying.
The ministry said the bodies of three rebels had been recovered after the attackers withdrew.The ministry said the bodies of three rebels had been recovered after the attackers withdrew.
The attack shows that the rebels are seeking to take over the territory once dominated by right-wing paramilitaries who have demobilised and entered a peace agreement with the government, the BBC's Jeremy McDermott says.
The news is a blow for Mr Uribe, who has vowed to crush the rebels by the end of his term in 2010, our correspondent says.
He says the attack shows that the Marxist rebels have re-taken the initiative from the US-backed Colombian military.
Talks broken offTalks broken off
Mr Uribe has boosted spending on the military and launched major offensives against guerrillas. President Uribe has boosted spending on the military and launched major offensives against guerrillas.
But a prisoner swap had seemed possible until the car bombing in Bogota two weeks ago that injured more than 20 people.But a prisoner swap had seemed possible until the car bombing in Bogota two weeks ago that injured more than 20 people.
Mr Uribe broke off talks and said he was considering a military rescue of hostages.Mr Uribe broke off talks and said he was considering a military rescue of hostages.
Farc is holding more than 3,000 people hostage, including some 60 politicians and foreigners.Farc is holding more than 3,000 people hostage, including some 60 politicians and foreigners.
The group released a statement late Tuesday saying it was still interested in an exchange of 60 hostages for 500 rebels the government holds, according to Associated Press news agency.The group released a statement late Tuesday saying it was still interested in an exchange of 60 hostages for 500 rebels the government holds, according to Associated Press news agency.
Farc - the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia - is the largest rebel group in Colombia. It has been fighting the government for more than four decades.Farc - the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia - is the largest rebel group in Colombia. It has been fighting the government for more than four decades.
On Friday, the Colombian government and the country's second-largest rebel group, ELN, announced that they would begin formal peace negotiations.On Friday, the Colombian government and the country's second-largest rebel group, ELN, announced that they would begin formal peace negotiations.