CIA played key role in capture of Colombian rebel chief: military

BOGOTA (AFP) Jan 04, 2004
The US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) provide "essential help" in the capture of a senior commander of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), a senior Colombian military official said Sunday.

FARC commander Ricardo Palmera, whose nom de guerre is Simon Trinidad, was captured in Ecuador on Friday and transferred to Colombia on Saturday.

Ecuadoran police arrested Palmera during a routine document check in downtown Quito Friday, when he was found not to be carrying required identification papers.

"It was an arduous and difficult intelligence operation in which the CIA had strong input, it was supported with crucial work by Colombia's intelligence agencies," the military official said on condition of anonymity.

The official said that although no countries have lodged an extradition request for Palmera, its not unlikely that the United States might be studying such a move as Palmera was allegedly involved in drug trafficking and FARC is deemed a terrorist organization by the United States.

The official's remarks were supported by a comment Saturday by Colombian Defense Minister Jorge Alberto Uribe. The defense chief said the United States had provided "vital support" in Palmera's arrest, but did not elaborate.

WAR.WIRE