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3 Colombian soldiers die in FARC attack

26 November 2010 04:34 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Clashes between FARC guerrillas and government troops in Colombia’s southwestern Huila department leave three soldiers dead, two injured and three missing, APA reports quoting Press TV.

The Colombian army said in a statement that the bodies of a sergeant and two soldiers where found, adding that the fate of the three missing soldiers remained unknown.

Military forces in the area claim they were able to confirm that a guerrilla leader, known as "Calambrina," and members of his ring were also killed during the clashes.

Troops and guerrillas have been clashing since Saturday in a government offensive in the rural area of Algeciras.

The security forces have lost at least fifteen men in the last two days of fighting, according to the Colombia Reports news website.

FARC is Latin America’s oldest and largest rebel group that has been battling the government in Bogota for 45 years.

According to official estimates, the FARC currently has about 8,000 fighters.