Colombian Army Kills FARC Leader
VOA News 23 September 2010
Authorities in Colombia say a top FARC rebel leader has been killed in a battle with government troops, the latest in a series of blows to the nation's main rebel group.
Government security officials said Tuesday that Jorge Briceno, also known as Mono JoJoy, was killed in a battle early Thursday in the nation's Meta region.
Speaking to reporters in New York where he is attending the U.N. General Assembly, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos called Briceno's death the biggest blow ever to the rebel group.
Earlier this week, another FARC leader, Sixto Antonio Cabana, known also as "Domingo Biojo," died Sunday in a military assault in southern Colombia near the border with Ecuador.
The FARC, Colombia's oldest and largest rebel group, has been weakened over the past 10 years thanks to a tough, U.S.-backed government campaign against them.
The guerrilla organization, and the smaller National Liberation Army (ELN) have stepped up attacks on security forces since President Santos took office last month. He has vowed to continue the tough security policies of his predecessor, Alvaro Uribe.
Nearly 40 members of the Colombia security forces have been killed since the beginning of September in a string of attacks and ambushes.
Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
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