High-level FARC peace talks suspended after Colombian general disappears

Cuba

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos has suspended the peace talks with FARC rebels after the apparent kidnapping of one of his army generals. The talks in Havana, Cuba were meant to end 50 years of armed conflict.

Santos blamed the FARC for the alleged kidnapping of Gen. Ruben Dario Alzate, which took place in the northwestern region of Colombia.

Gen. Alzate was travelling along the Atrato River by boat at the time of the kidnapping, and was dressed in civilian clothes. Santos has asked for an investigation into why he was dressed in civilian clothing in an area of high rebel activity.

While officials lead efforts to find Alzate, the state of the peace talks remains uncertain, and criticism of the FARC continues to grow. FARC has not given an official response but did call for a press conference for Tuesday morning from Havana, Cuba.

CCTV America’s Michelle Begue reports.