Colombia - Farc

Farc capture Colombian governor

Article published on the 2009-12-22 Latest update 2009-12-22 11:04 TU

Luis Francisco Cuellar
(Photo: Caqueta government)

Farc militants abducted Luis Francisco Cuellar, the governor of Caqueta, on Monday according to local media. He was kidnapped after a raid on his home in the southern Colombian department.

The Marxist militants used grenades and exchanged gunfire with security guards before seizing the governor and fleeing.

Cuellar’s whereabouts is unknown, but the national police chief General Oscar Naranjo is travelling to the region to lead the search operation.

It is thought Farc are currently holding 22 police officers and soldiers as hostages, who they hope to use in exchange for jailed Farc members.