Colombia Rebels Blow Prison Gate, Free 68 Inmates
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tuesday, 8 May 2001
Colombia Rebels Free 61 From Jail
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BOGOTA -- Leftist guerrillas blasted their way with dynamite into a small
town jail in Colombia and freed 61 prisoners including fellow rebels,
police said Tuesday.
The jail break was part of an assault late-Monday on the western town of
Caloto in which fighters from the country's largest rebel group also
attacked the police station.
Police said they were unsure how many of the freed prisoners were members
of the leftist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC. Some were
common criminals.
A group of about 30 police officers fended off the rebels, who attacked
with machine gun fire, rockets and homemade missiles. The army said
Tuesday it was on the trail of the prisoners.
Caloto, a town of about 6,000 residents, is located in Cauca State, 189
miles southwest of Bogota. Guerrillas and right-wing paramilitary groups
are waging a fierce battle in Cauca over territory and profits from
illegal drug crops.
Suspected paramilitaries killed seven villagers near Caloto on Saturday
after accusing them of supporting the guerrillas, officials said.
Copyright 2001 Associated Press
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