Bogota, July 09: Fifteen right-wing paramilitaries were killed in an air and ground attack by Colombian troops, an Army official said. General Carlos Saavedra said the paramilitaries were attacked while traveling in a rural area in the Central Department of Meta, southeast of Bogota yesterday. He said combat was still going on nearby. Troops also confiscated several assault rifles, ammunition, explosives and two vehicles, according to an official report. Some 10,000 paramilitaries are fighting a three-way war with the Colombian government and anti-government Leftist guerrillas.
In January, the government of President Alvaro Uribe launched talks with the paramilitaries in hopes of disarming them and getting them to free the hostages they are holding. Bureau Report