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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, November 20, 2001

Colombian Rightist Rebels Kidnap Six Mayors to Bar Guerrilla Meetings

The right-wing United Self- Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) has kidnapped six mayors of northwestern cities in the country, claiming not allow their " dialogue" to continue with the National Liberation Army (ELN), the second largest guerrilla group, official sources said on Monday.


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The right-wing United Self- Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) has kidnapped six mayors of northwestern cities in the country, claiming not allow their " dialogue" to continue with the National Liberation Army (ELN), the second largest guerrilla group, official sources said on Monday.

The abducted mayors are those of Guatepe, Marinilla, San Luis, Carmen de Viboral, Penal and Granada. They recently held a " humanitarian meeting" with ELN's representatives. All the towns are in the Antioquia province.

In a letter the paramilitary AUC sent to the Antioquia governor, Guillermo Gaviria, the organisation assumed responsibility for the abduction, saying it will be in charge of their security.

"We don't accept regional talks with the ELN bandits," the rightist paramilitary organization indicated in the message.

Last Friday, the Colombian government also warned a group of mayors of the Antioquia province not to continue holding regional meetings with guerrillas "without the authorization" of President Andres Pastrana.

This warning was issued by the government High Commissioner for Peace, Camilo Gomez, after a meeting with 15 of the 23 mayors of this province, who had allegedly signed an agreement with the ELN four weeks ago to withdraw police headquarters from the urban areas of their municipalities.

At the meeting between the mayors and the ELN, the leftist rebels committed not to attack the municipalities during a six- month period.

The 23 mayors have said on many occasions that they had no accords with the rebels and the meeting was only "humanitarian" in nature.




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