Colombian troops killed Alfonso Cano, leader of the FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia), during a day-long operation in which his female companion also died, government and local officials said Cano died in a firefight late Friday during a massive anti-guerrilla effort involving 800 to 1,000 soldiers as part of Bogota's latest push against the leftist rebels.
President Juan Manuel Santos hailed Cano's demise as "the strongest blow sustained by the guerrilla group in all of its history," and he warned the FARC to lay down their arms. "Demobilise or you will end up in prison or in a grave," the president said.
Cano's body has been taken to a morgue in the city of the Popayan for an autopsy to determine the official cause of death, authorities said Saturday. The operation was the latest in a string of recent military victories in the government's quest to eradicate Latin America's longest-running leftist insurgency, after years of unsuccessful attempts to find a negotiated solution.
Defence Minister Juan Carlos Pinzon said Cano was killed in a military operation launched in southern Cauca department several days ago. The rebel leader's female companion also died during the battle, military officials said. According to Pinzon, the military early Friday started to hit an area occupied by FARC rebels, followed by a ground offensive to encircle the area, cutting off escape routes. A firefight erupted when the soldiers caught up with 63-year-old Cano and his personal security detail, and the FARC leader was killed in action, Pinzon said.