Americas News
At least 16 police killed in FARC rebel attack
By DPA
Nov 1, 2006, 19:00 GMT

Bogota - At least 16 policemen were killed and many more wounded in one of the deadliest ambushes by left-wing Colombian rebels in months on Wednesday, the government said.

About 100 members of Colombia's largest rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, attacked the town of Tierradentro in northern Colombia early Wednesday morning, Interior Minister Carlos Holguin said.

Holguin said the attack had come as a complete surprise and said there were many policemen injured and missing. FARC rebels pulled back quickly after the attack and the region was back in control of security forces.

It was FARC's biggest strike since conservative President Alvaro Uribe two weeks ago broke off talks with the group over an exchange of jailed rebels for hostages held by the guerillas.

Uribe cut off the talks after a bomb attack at Bogota's military university, injuring 24, which authorities suspect FARC of carrying out.

The 17,000-strong Marxist group has been battling the state and right-wing paramilitary forces in the country for more than four decades.