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Colombian army kills six FARC rebels

04 December 2012 04:59 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. At least six members of the rebel Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) were killed in a military bombardment on guerrilla camps in the southwest of the country, the military said Monday, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

The victims included Guillermo Pequeno, head of the FARC's "Mariscal Antonio Jose Sucre" division, Gen. Leonardo Barrero, chief of the military's southwestern joint command, confirmed.

Some 20 guerrillas could have been killed, but so far only six bodies have been recovered, including those of Pequeno and his radio operator, Barrero added.

During the army operation Saturday in Ricaurte, Narino department, three guerrilla camps were bombed where there were about 25 guerrillas.

Barrero said Army troops found chains at one of the sites, leading them to draw a conclusion that the camps were used as safe houses for kidnapping victims.

The latest move came after the Colombian government and the FARC held first round peace talks in Havana in late November.

On Nov. 19, the FARC announced a unilateral ceasefire that would last until Jan. 20.