Colombia Investigates Alleged Rebel Links To Venezuela
VOA News
1 Feb 2002 10:36 UTC
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Colombian authorities say they have intercepted a small plane from Venezuela carrying contraband ammunition apparently intended for leftist rebels.

Officials said Thursday the plane illegally entered Colombian airspace and was forced down in northeastern Arauca department. The province is a stronghold of the country's largest rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, also known as FARC.

The head of the Colombian Air Force says he suspects the 15,000 rifle cartridges were destined for the guerrilla group.

Thursday's incident comes one day after the Venezuelan media released a videotape showing a prominent FARC commander talking with several Venezuelan Air Force officials in a jungle hideaway.

The men were said to be discussing a humanitarian accord to rescue a kidnapping victim. It is not known whether the Colombian government sanctioned the meeting.

In a separate development, Colombia's second largest Marxist rebel group, the National Liberation Army, and government negotiators have ended three days of peace talks hosted by Cuba.

Colombia's leftist rebels have been waging a guerrilla war against the government for nearly four decades.

Some information for this report provided by AP and Reuters.

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