Raid on guerrilla camp in Colombia kills 26

World Today

Colombia’s President Juan Manuel Santos announces that at least 26 leftist rebels have been killed in a raid in western Colombia, as he's flanked by Defense Minister Juan Carlos Pinzon, left, and Armed Forces Commander Gen. Juan Pablo Rodriguez, at the presidential palace in Bogota, Friday, May 22, 2015. Colombia's largest rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), announced they're ending a unilateral cease-fire in response to the military raid on their guerrilla camp. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)Colombia’s President Juan Manuel Santos announces that at least 26 leftist rebels have been killed in a raid in western Colombia, as he’s flanked by Defense Minister Juan Carlos Pinzon, left, and Armed Forces Commander Gen. Juan Pablo Rodriguez, at the presidential palace in Bogota, Friday, May 22, 2015. Colombia’s largest rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), announced they’re ending a unilateral cease-fire in response to the military raid on their guerrilla camp. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)

Colombia’s largest rebel group is ending a unilateral cease-fire in response to a military raid on a guerrilla camp that killed 26 of its fighters.

The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia says it hadn’t wanted to lift the five-month-old cease-fire but that the constant military pursuit of the rebels makes it a necessity.

Friday’s announcement doesn’t mean the rebels are walking away from ongoing peace talks in Cuba. They urged the government to join them in declaring a bilateral ceasefire so those can bring an end to the half-century conflict.

Source: AP