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Peru 'captures Farc rebels'

Mar 20 2008

Peru 'captures Farc rebels'

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By Agencies

Last month's controversial raid on a Farc camp in Ecuador sparked a crisis in Latin America [AFP]
Police in Peru have detained two members of the Colombian Farc rebel group in the northern city of Loreto, officials said.

John Javer Manrique Escobar, 30, also known as "Tanaka" or "Oliver," and Lady Vivas Guerrero, 25, were detained by Peruvian police after a tip-off from Colombian authorities.

Police alleged that Escobar had been involved in Farc activity and drugs and arms dealing on the Peru-Colombia border.

The detentions come after last month's controversial raid on a Farc camp in Ecuador by Colombia, which sparked a diplomatic crisis in the region.

Police reportedly tracked the pair, said to be from the group's southern wing, for 15 days before seizing them.

Fighters from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) have been known to cross Colombia's border into neighbouring countries in order to hide from the military.

Controversial raid

Last month's raid killed about 20 Farc fighters, including one of the group's main leaders, Raul Reyes.

Ecuador and Venezuela responded by cutting diplomatic ties with Colombia and sending troops to their borders with the country.

The crisis was resolved earlier this month at a summit of Latin American leaders in the Dominican Republic.

Colombia apologised for the raid but said it had been necessary in order to combat the Farc group, which has waged a decades-long war against the government.

The Organisation of American States also "deplored" the incident.