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Large-scale rebel attacks in the capital are rare. The FARC, the hemisphere's oldest and largest rebel army, has urban militias in Bogota but those usually conduct isolated bomb attacks, intelligence gathering and kidnapping. ___________ ============================================ REUTERS Thursday, 8 July 1999 52 die in heavy clashes in mountains near Bogota ------------------------------------------------ By Karl Penhaul BOGOTA -- At least 52 people have died in heavy fighting that erupted in mountains on the edge of Bogota on Thursday as hundreds of Marxist rebels prepared to stage a spectacular attack on the capital, the Colombian army said. An army spokesman said at least 15 crack counterinsurgency troops and up to 37 Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrillas died in the battle that broke out at dawn around the Andean village of Gutierrez, 15 miles (25 km) south of Bogota. The fighting is the latest in a surge of rebel attacks that have come against the backdrop of peace talks between the government and the FARC. The negotiations, which are going ahead without any prior ceasefire agreement, are aimed at ending Colombia's long-running war that has claimed more than 35,000 lives in just 10 years. ``In army ranks we have about 15 dead. And according to local government authorities in the combat zone we know the guerrillas have lost 37 men,'' an army officer told Reuters by telephone. Col. Paulino Coronado, stationed in Bogota, described the situation as very serious and said there had been heavy losses on both sides. An army statement said one of the FARC's most ``bloodthirsty terrorists,'' known by his alias ``Romana,'' was leading the 500- strong guerrilla column. At least 600 soldiers have been drafted into the area of towering peaks and deep chasms, situated almost 10,000 feet (3,000 metres) above sea level. Bad weather has so far prevented reinforcements who were being flown in from reaching the combat zone. ``The bandit Romana was bringing four (guerrilla) fronts to carry out attacks in the capital,'' Coronado said. He was unable to say what targets the FARC unit was preparing to strike in Bogota but said he thought the rebels were aiming to carry out a high-profile show of force to strengthen their hand at the peace talks. One of the FARC's senior warlords, Jorge Briceno, known as ``Mono Jojoy,'' warned over the weekend that the guerrillas may try to break jailed comrades out of prisons around the country. Thursday's fighting is just a short distance from Bogota's high-security La Picota penitentiary where a number of insurgents are held. Large-scale rebel attacks in the capital are rare. The FARC, the hemisphere's oldest and largest rebel army, has urban militias in Bogota but those usually conduct isolated bomb attacks, intelligence gathering and kidnapping. Rebel commander Romana, however, has headed a series of high-profile operations in the past 18 months, including the raid on the eastern jungle town of Mitu in November and the kidnap of four U.S. bird-watchers last March. Romana had been overseeing security in an area of southeast Colombia where peace talks have been taking place. But FARC sources say he was sent back to the mountains close to Bogota in June after the army killed two local commanders. President Andres Pastrana formally launched the peace process with the FARC in January. The latest phase -- full-blown negotiations centering on a 12-point agenda -- were due to start on Wednesday but were postponed until July 20 because of logistical problems. Late last month, at least 68 people, including soldiers, rebels and civilians died in fighting in northern Cordoba province. Copyright 1999 Reuters Limited |
