Colombian peace deal in danger after renewed clashes, army kills 2 FARC members

Four days after a new peace deal was signed to end a half century of fighting, renewed fighting erupted between security forces and FARC rebels, as two guerrillas belonging to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia were killed during clashes.


"Fighting took place in the south of the Bolivar department, and guerrillas who claimed to belong to the FARC were killed," the government's chief peace negotiator Humberto de la Calle told Caracol television.

"The Defense Ministry holds that there was an illegal operation there," he added.

The army confirmed the report of fighting, which comes in violation of a bilateral cease-fire in place since August.

The army said in a statement that another suspected rebel who was detained said that he and the two killed were with the FARC's 37th Front.

The military also said, however, that locals insisted the insurgents were with the smaller National Liberation Army (ELN), which is often involved in kidnapping and extortion.
 [dailysabah.com]
17/11/16
-
Related:

• Government and FARC claim progress in talks on new peace deal
• Colombia: President Santos extends ceasefire with FARC

-

• Talks between Colombia, ELN rebels await release of captive