Colombian Army Kills 18 FARC Rebels

At least 18 fighters of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, FARC, were killed in an attack on one of the group's bases by the Colombian army, agencies reported late Thursday.

Today's raid comes as the deadliest confrontation between the Colombian army and the rebels since the government and the guerrilla group began peace talks two years ago.

According to army sources, the attack included an air bombing raid, followed by ground combat, which took place in Cauca department on the Pacific coast.

"A military offensive produced combat in which 18 rebels died," an army official told Reuters.

The peace process aims to bring an end to more than 50 years of armed conflict that has claimed more than 220,000 lives and millions of other victims.

The army offensive against the group comes days after the Colombian government suspended over 100 arrest warrants against the leader of the FARC Timoleon Jimenez, allowing him to travel to Cuba to participate in peace talks with the Colombian government.

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