40 dead as rebels increase attacks

Bogota - Some 40 people were reported killed in a wave of attacks by Marxist rebels from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia…

Bogota - Some 40 people were reported killed in a wave of attacks by Marxist rebels from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) yesterday just ahead of a new round of peace talks, according to the military and news reports.

At least 11 members of the security forces were wounded and three were reported missing in scores of attacks over the last 24 hours, officials said. The boldest attack was a FARC raid on Puerto Inirida, the capital of the south-eastern department of Guainia. Navy Admiral Sergio Garcia said that marines at a river naval station killed at least 30 of the heavily-armed attackers.