Adam
08-06-02, 08:10 AM
Colombia Rebels Launch Attacks
The Associated Press, Mon 5 Aug 2002
BOGOTA (AP) — Rebels launched a series of attacks Monday ahead of this week's presidential inauguration, damaging a rural airport, an urban police station, a government office building and electrical and oil pipelines. Eight civilians and seven soldiers were injured in the attacks.
The airport in the town of Saravena, 215 miles northeast of the capital of Bogota, was heavily damaged when rebels launched four or five homemade mortars at the terminal.
``Our reaction was to throw ourselves on the floor to save our lives because the explosions were very strong,'' Carlos Sandoval, a private pilot who was at the airport, told RCN television.
Five civilians were hurt, as were between seven and 10 soldiers, in the explosion and a subsequent gunfight with the rebels, Army Gen. Martin Carreno said. Carreno blamed the attack on the country's main rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC.
Later Monday, rebels set off three bombs on the oil pipeline that runs through Arauca and Boyaca states, shutting down the country's second most important oil pipeline. It was not immediately clear who was responsible for the bombings, but the FARC have routinely bombed the pipeline.
Rebels also downed three electric towers in Medellin, Colombia's second largest city, leaving residents temporarily without power.
In the resort town of Cartagena, three people suffered minor injuries when a small bomb went off in a bathroom of the state government building, said Adm. Guillermo Barrera. The government building is inside a walled city that is popular with tourists.
Officials arrested two suspected members of the FARC with 80 pounds of explosives they were preparing for another attack, Barrera said.
Suspected rebels also launched two mortar rounds at a police station in Medellin. The missiles missed their target and fell in a residential neighborhood without exploding. Police defused the mortar rounds, which were made from cooking gas canisters.
In the past, the FARC has launched attacks in the days leading up to a change of government. Hard-liner Alvaro Uribe, elected on promises to crack down on the rebels, is to take office Wednesday.
The U.S. embassy sent a note to Americans in Colombia warning them to avoid travel by land this week because of the possibility of attacks.
Two small bombs exploded Sunday in Bogota, killing one person — apparently the man who was setting one of the explosives.
Source. (http://www.southamericadaily.com/p/47/ea57a8291709.html)
The Associated Press, Mon 5 Aug 2002
BOGOTA (AP) — Rebels launched a series of attacks Monday ahead of this week's presidential inauguration, damaging a rural airport, an urban police station, a government office building and electrical and oil pipelines. Eight civilians and seven soldiers were injured in the attacks.
The airport in the town of Saravena, 215 miles northeast of the capital of Bogota, was heavily damaged when rebels launched four or five homemade mortars at the terminal.
``Our reaction was to throw ourselves on the floor to save our lives because the explosions were very strong,'' Carlos Sandoval, a private pilot who was at the airport, told RCN television.
Five civilians were hurt, as were between seven and 10 soldiers, in the explosion and a subsequent gunfight with the rebels, Army Gen. Martin Carreno said. Carreno blamed the attack on the country's main rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC.
Later Monday, rebels set off three bombs on the oil pipeline that runs through Arauca and Boyaca states, shutting down the country's second most important oil pipeline. It was not immediately clear who was responsible for the bombings, but the FARC have routinely bombed the pipeline.
Rebels also downed three electric towers in Medellin, Colombia's second largest city, leaving residents temporarily without power.
In the resort town of Cartagena, three people suffered minor injuries when a small bomb went off in a bathroom of the state government building, said Adm. Guillermo Barrera. The government building is inside a walled city that is popular with tourists.
Officials arrested two suspected members of the FARC with 80 pounds of explosives they were preparing for another attack, Barrera said.
Suspected rebels also launched two mortar rounds at a police station in Medellin. The missiles missed their target and fell in a residential neighborhood without exploding. Police defused the mortar rounds, which were made from cooking gas canisters.
In the past, the FARC has launched attacks in the days leading up to a change of government. Hard-liner Alvaro Uribe, elected on promises to crack down on the rebels, is to take office Wednesday.
The U.S. embassy sent a note to Americans in Colombia warning them to avoid travel by land this week because of the possibility of attacks.
Two small bombs exploded Sunday in Bogota, killing one person — apparently the man who was setting one of the explosives.
Source. (http://www.southamericadaily.com/p/47/ea57a8291709.html)