Colombian General Rescued
After 12 Years In Captivity
BOGOTA - Colombian armed forces have rescued
Luis Mendieta, a general kidnapped 12 years
ago by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of
Colombia (FARC), President Alvaro Uribe said
Sunday.
Mendieta is the highest-ranking military
officer kidnapped by the FARC to date.
"The Joint Operations Command of our armed
forces just rescued General Mendieta and
Colonel (Enrique) Murillo. The forces are
combating in the jungles of Guaviare
department to take them out from there,"
Uribe said.
"Both of them are with our forces at
present," the president said. "The rescue
was made in a rural zone of Calamar
municipality."
Mendieta and Murillo were kidnapped on Nov.
1, 1998 by the FARC in the Mitu city,
capital of southeastern Vaupes province,
when the FARC fought to take the city. At
that time, 43 people were killed during the
battle, including soldiers, policemen and
civilians, and 61 others were kidnapped.
Uribe announced the rescue at the Communal
Council of Government in Quibdo city in the
northwest of the country.
"It is a difficult operation that we have
been carrying out since months ago. They
killed one sergeant of ours. General
Mendieta and Colonel Murillo are safe with
the armed forces and we continue fighting
there to rescue more," Uribe said.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
