Monday, March 24, 2008

Colombia: Ecuadorian killed in raid on FARC

Colombia’s defense minister confirmed that an Ecuadorian was killed in a military strike which led to a regional diplomatic crisis. Juan Manuel Santos said yesterday that one of those killed in the March 1st Colombian military attack against guerillas in Ecuadorian territory was a man named “Lucho”. Santos further claimed that “Lucho” was romantically involved with the “public ambassador in Ecuador” for the FARC.

Santos’ admission may lead to renewed friction between Ecuador and Colombia; on Saturday, Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa mentioned that:

"It would be extremely grave if it is proven that a Ecuadorean died," the left-wing president said on a radio program. "We will not let this murder go unpunished."

He did not specify what type of action he might take.

In the meantime, Mexico’s government repeated how it “deplored and rejected” the raid which killed four Mexican students.

Sources- The Latin Americanist, International Herald Tribune, Voice of America, Associated Press, Reuters

Image- BBC News


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