Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


             10 Soldiers Killed in FARC Attack, Colombian Army Says

   by Reuters

   Ten soldiers were killed Wednesday in an attack by FARC rebels in
   southwestern Colombia, the army said, raising questions over whether
   the leftist group had broken a unilateral cease-fire it declared four
   months ago.

   The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia have been in peace
   negotiations with the government for more than two years and declared
   the cease-fire in December as talks advanced, saying they would open
   fire only if attacked.

   The army condemned the attack by FARC "narco-terrorists," General Mario
   Valencia told journalists, referring to the drug trafficking that funds
   the group.

   He said one FARC member had also been killed in the attack, which took
   place as the army carried out "territorial control operations'' to
   protect civilians in the area. At least nine government troops were
   also injured.

   President Juan Manuel Santos said on Twitter that he would travel
   Wednesday to Cauca province, where the attack took place. Just days
   ago, he extended a halt to air raids on FARC jungle hideouts, a gesture
   aimed at de-escalating the 50-year-old war.

   "I am with the military leadership consulting about the events,''
   Santos said. "This is exactly the war that we want to end.''

   The attack was unlikely to derail the peace negotiations that have been
   taking place in Cuba since late 2012 even while battlefield combat
   continued at home. But it was the first major clash blamed on FARC
   since its cease-fire declaration.

   FARC negotiator Felix Antonio Munoz, known as Pastor Alape, did not
   confirm whether the FARC was involved, but he appeared to blame the
   government for the clashes.

   The confrontation "seems to be caused by the incoherence on the part of
   the government -- ordering military operations against a rebel force in
   cease-fire,'' he told reporters in Havana, reiterating FARC's demand
   for a bilateral cease-fire.

   Despite halting air raids against FARC, Santos has refused to call a
   complete end to attacks against the rebels, reiterating the
   government's constitutional duty to protect civilians.

   FARC exploited a cease-fire period during a previous peace process more
   than a decade ago to regroup and build up military strength.

   Santos also has to tread a fine line between pursuing peace while
   trying to avoid accusations that he is capitulating to a group Western
   governments deem terrorists.
     __________________________________________________________________

   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/soldiers-killed-farc-attack-colombian
   -army-says/2720354.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/soldiers-killed-farc-attack-colombian-army-says/2720354.html