Rebel Ambush Kills 16 in Colombian Forces
BOGOTA, Colombia - Leftist rebels ambushed a military convoy in remote northeastern Colombia, killing 16 soldiers and secret police officers in the deadliest attack on security forces this year, the army said Friday.
The attack took place Thursday in Norte de Santander province, 260 miles northeast of the capital, Bogota. Ten of those killed were DAS secret police officers, Colombia's hybrid equivalent of the
CIA and
FBI. The other six were soldiers.
The agents and soldiers had been carrying out operations against the country's largest rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, when explosives were detonated alongside their convoy. Rebels then attacked the survivors.
The province of Norte de Santander, which sits on the border with Venezuela, is one of Colombia's most violent. Leftist guerrillas, far-right paramilitaries and drug traffickers are locked in a battle to control the zone and its substantial supply of coca crops, from which cocaine is made.
The attack took place Thursday in Norte de Santander province, 260 miles northeast of the capital, Bogota. Ten of those killed were DAS secret police officers, Colombia's hybrid equivalent of the
CIA and
FBI. The other six were soldiers.
The agents and soldiers had been carrying out operations against the country's largest rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, when explosives were detonated alongside their convoy. Rebels then attacked the survivors.
The province of Norte de Santander, which sits on the border with Venezuela, is one of Colombia's most violent. Leftist guerrillas, far-right paramilitaries and drug traffickers are locked in a battle to control the zone and its substantial supply of coca crops, from which cocaine is made.
posted by Marko at 4/22/2006 10:21:00 AM
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