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Colombian Police Arrest Militia Leader
 A right-wing paramilitary leader accused of killing a state congressman surrendered Friday after a four-day, nationwide manhunt, the National Police said. President Alvaro Uribe ordered the arrest of Diego Fernando Murillo this week, throwing peace negotiations with the paramilitary groups into turmoil just days before Colombian legislators are expected pass an amnesty bill that would bring about a final peace deal. Other paramilitary leaders said earlier Friday the talks would continue without Murillo. RCN television showed footage of Murillo walking with government Peace Commissioner Luis Carlos Restrepo. More than a dozen armed police officers were surrounding Murillo, a leader of the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia, or AUC, but he was not handcuffed. "He turned himself in due to the pressure bearing down on him from the police's search," said Sgt. Jamat Guapacho. Guapacho said Murillo was placed under arrest. Murillo once allegedly ran a team of assassins used by Pablo Escobar's Medellin cocaine cartel. He is accused in the April 10 kidnapping and killing of Cordoba state lawmaker Orlando Benitez, his sister and an aide. Posted by: Fred 2005-05-28 |
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