A top commander of Colombia's left-wing guerrillas, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), has been killed, the government says.
Defence Minister Juan Manuel Santos told reporters Raul Reyes had been killed in combat. He died with other rebels during an attack on the town of Tetey, local radio reported. Also known as Luis Edgar Devia, Reyes was one of seven members of Farc's secretariat, and the group's spokesman.
Colombian President Alvaro Uribe has received billions of dollars in aid to fight the rebels from the US administration, which along with the EU views Farc as a terrorist organisation. While Colombian troops have recently retaken control of areas previously held by rebel groups, the rebels retain a strong hold over Colombia's more remote regions.
Despite recent hostage releases brokered by Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez, scores of hostages - including the French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt - are still being held by the rebel group.