| Submit your comments on this article |
| Caribbean-Latin America |
| 5 Colombian troops killed in minefield |
| 2010-12-20 |
| [Iran Press TV] Five Colombian soldiers have been killed and two others injured after stepping into a minefield in southern part of the capital city Bogota. The troops were on duty with the Army's Ninth Brigade on patrol in the town of Puerto Rico, 650 kilometers (404 miles) south of the capital in a rural area of Caqueta department on Saturday, AFP reported, quoting a military official. Authorities blame the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) for planting the mines. The FARC is Latin America's oldest and largest rebel group that has been battling the Colombian government for 45 years. The rebel group has killed more than 60 Colombian troops since August despite the government's appointment of a security advisor to counter the wave of deadly attacks. There are currently about 8,000 FARC rebels, according to official estimates. |
| Posted by:Fred |