7 rebels killed by Colombian army

BOGOTA, May 5 (Xinhua) -- At least seven members of the rebel Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) were killed and another one was captured in the southwestern department of Narino, the military announced Sunday.

Leonardo Barrera, chief of the southwestern joint command, said the guerrillas were members of the FARC 29th Front.

"This FARC Front is involved in drug trafficking activities in this region of the country, as they protect trafficking of cocaine to other countries," Barrera told local media.

The military also seized some weapons and explosives in Saturday's operation.

The war with rebels in Colombia has lasted more than five decades, claiming 600,000 lives and leaving some 15,000 people unaccounted for and almost 4 million displaced.

FARC, founded by landless peasants who took up arms to fight for land reform, currently has between 8,000 and 9,000 members, according to official figures.

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