VILLAVICENCIO: Colombian troops killed at least 36 suspected FARC rebels and captured four in an army offensive in the east-central department ofMeta, according to officials.
President Juan Manuel Santos announced the raid in a meeting of his security council inVillavicencio, 110 kilometers (68 miles) south ofBogota, less than a week after troops killed more than 30 rebels in a similar operation.
The Colombian president on Monday praised the "very good results" of the army, and said two of those arrested in the operation were women.
One of those killed was a guerrilla, code-named Arcesio, who was a regional commander of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrillas,Santossaid.
"The offensive is continuing and I would like to congratulate the armed forces,"Santossaid. "The armed forces will continue and persevere, faithful to their instructions."
Defense Minister Juan Carlos Pinzon said 36 rebels had been killed in the offensive, which struck a "major blow" against the rebel group and resulted in the seizure of a large arsenal of firearms and grenades.
The renewed violence follows FARC overtures -- thus far deemed insufficient by the government -- to make peace withBogota.
Air Force, army, police and navy personnel participated in the operation,Santossaid.
The FARC,Latin America's last major insurgency, said through a mediator that it plans to start releasing 10 military hostages under a pledge announced last month.
The rebel group announced in February that it would release the six police officers and four soldiers it still holds and would end the practice of kidnapping for ransom. But the plan later stalled and has been pushed to April.
The FARC reaffirmed its commitment in early March to releasing the prisoners, who have been held in captivity for more than 12 years.
The FARC has continued, however, to clash with army forces.
The offensive comes less than a week after 36 guerrillas were killed in an offensive inArauca, on the border withVenezuela.
That offensive came after 11 soldiers were killed in a March 17 FARC ambush inArauca.
The FARC, founded in 1964, isLatin America's oldest guerrilla movement, and is believed to have about 9,000 fighters in mountainous and jungle areas ofColombia, according to government estimates.
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