News / Colombia

Dissident FARC leader killed in Colombian air force operation

Friday, 29 September 2017 5:58 PM [ Last Update: Friday, 29 September 2017 6:00 PM ]

Euclides Mora, the former leader of Colombia's rebel group FARC

Colombia's armed forces have killed a dissident leader of the former rebel group FARC during a military operation in the country's southeast.

Euclides Mora was second-in-command of a dissident group that rejected the November 2016 peace accord, under which FARC transformed itself into a political party earlier this month.

Mora, 51, who was said to be engaged in drug trafficking, was killed in an air force operation in the jungle. Mora was killed "in a joint operation of the army, air force and police in the Calamar municipality," part of the coca-producing southern region of Guaviare, the army said.

President Juan Manuel Santos said in a message posted on Twitter, "The message is clear: surrender, otherwise jail or the grave awaits."

Mora commanded a group of FARC guerrillas who refused to disarm during the lengthy peace process, and was expelled with other dissident leaders from the rebel group last November.

An army statement said Mora was involved in drug trafficking and extortion in the central region of Meta and in Guaviare and Caqueta in the south, as well as recruitment of fighters.

During the military operation in which he was killed authorities captured another member of the group and confiscated weapons.

PressTV-Colombia’s FARC becomes political party

Colombia's FARC, formerly a guerrilla group, re-launches itself Friday as a leftist political party following its disarmament after a half-century civil conflict.

Some 7,000 ex-guerrillas disarmed and are currently undergoing transition to civilian life under the banner of the new FARC political party that emerged from the accord signed to end a half-century of conflict.

According to military estimates, at least 300 FARC rebels remain at large having rejected the peace deal.

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