Top Colombian rebel dies in 'accident'

BOGOTA (Reuters) -- A senior Marxist rebel commander, believed responsible for a recent wave of attacks across central Colombia, has been killed in an accident, fellow insurgents said Monday.

A communique issued by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) said commander Adan Izquierdo, head of one of the guerrilla force's seven main fighting divisions, died in an "unfortunate accident" but gave no further details.

The RCN television network, citing anonymous military intelligence sources, said Izquierdo had accidentally shot himself while cleaning his rifle.

Izquierdo was commander of the FARC's so-called Central Joint Command based in central Tolima province. The division had carried out a series of attacks on isolated police posts in central Colombia since June.

The FARC is Latin America's largest surviving 1960s rebel army with an estimated 17,000 combatants and control of up to 40 percent of the country.

Copyright 2000 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For more Americas news, myCNN.com will bring you news from the areas and subjects you select.

See related sites about Americas

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.