Nickdfresh
02-10-2005, 07:07 AM
Rebels kill 17 Colombian soldiers
Wednesday, February 9, 2005 Posted: 8:52 PM EST (0152 GMT)
http://i.a.cnn.net/cnn/2005/WORLD/americas/02/09/colombia.violence/story.farc.afp.jpg
Medical staff in Colombia attend to a soldier wounded in a suspected FARC attack on February 1.
BOGOTA, Colombia (CNN) -- Leftist rebels have killed 17 Colombian soldiers, including an army officer, during a firefight in the northern province of Uraba, the nation's top military commander said.
General Carlos Alberto Ospina said eight infantry soldiers were missing after the attack by guerrillas of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, known by its Spanish acronym FARC.
It was the fourth major rebel attack this month.
Ospina said as many as 11 rebels died.
The general said Wednesday's attack near the town of Mutata, about 200 miles northwest of Bogota, began when the soldiers intercepted a guerrilla column that was marching along a riverbank.
The area has been known for drug trafficking and gun smuggling.
President Alvaro Uribe launched a major offensive when he took office in August 2002 to crush the rebels in the conflict that began in 1964.
FARC has an estimated 20,000 members.
Last week, 16 marines died when homemade rockets were fired at a marine base, eight soldiers died when an army patrol drove over explosives and at least five soldiers died in a firefight.
CNN (http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/americas/02/09/colombia.violence/index.html) Correspondent Karl Penhaul contributed to this report.
Wednesday, February 9, 2005 Posted: 8:52 PM EST (0152 GMT)
http://i.a.cnn.net/cnn/2005/WORLD/americas/02/09/colombia.violence/story.farc.afp.jpg
Medical staff in Colombia attend to a soldier wounded in a suspected FARC attack on February 1.
BOGOTA, Colombia (CNN) -- Leftist rebels have killed 17 Colombian soldiers, including an army officer, during a firefight in the northern province of Uraba, the nation's top military commander said.
General Carlos Alberto Ospina said eight infantry soldiers were missing after the attack by guerrillas of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, known by its Spanish acronym FARC.
It was the fourth major rebel attack this month.
Ospina said as many as 11 rebels died.
The general said Wednesday's attack near the town of Mutata, about 200 miles northwest of Bogota, began when the soldiers intercepted a guerrilla column that was marching along a riverbank.
The area has been known for drug trafficking and gun smuggling.
President Alvaro Uribe launched a major offensive when he took office in August 2002 to crush the rebels in the conflict that began in 1964.
FARC has an estimated 20,000 members.
Last week, 16 marines died when homemade rockets were fired at a marine base, eight soldiers died when an army patrol drove over explosives and at least five soldiers died in a firefight.
CNN (http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/americas/02/09/colombia.violence/index.html) Correspondent Karl Penhaul contributed to this report.