Colombia’s FARC claims US spying on rebels

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October 3rd, 2013 (AFP) Colombia’s leftist FARC guerrillas said Wednesday they have been victims of “cyber espionage,” and suggested the US National Security Agency may be to blame.

Recent revelations by former intelligence contractor Edward Snowden have exposed the NSA’s far-reaching electronic surveillance of phone records and Internet traffic.

“This news does not surprise us. On the contrary, it confirms what we have been saying,” the rebels said.

“We have been the victims of sabotage and espionage for a long time, especially when it comes to using virtual communications to express our ideas and reasons to fight.”

The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia said its news agency’s website was “blocked by unknown agents.”

The rebels have been negotiating since November 2012 a peace agreement in Havana with the Colombian government to end half a century of conflict. They are set to launch a new round of talks on Thursday.