Rebel attacks on Colombian towns kill 3, injure scores

July 10, 2011

9 July 2011 Last updated at 20:08 ET

Left-wing Farc rebels in Colombia have attacked five towns in the west of the

country.

At least three people have been killed and many more wounded.

The mayor of Toribio, one of the towns under attack, said the main square was

packed with people attending the market when the rebels struck.

Colombian President Santos said the attacks were an attempt by the

rebels to distract the security forces, who are closing in on their leaders.

In Toribio, in Cauca province, rebels drove a small bus laden with explosives

into the local police station.

Mayor Banguero said farmers attending the weekly market dived for cover

as the rebels exchanged fire with police.

Two civilians and one policeman are reported to have died.

Toribio has repeatedly been targeted by the Farc, Colombia's largest left-wing

rebel group.

The town is located in a mountainous area where the Farc's Sixth Division is

active.

Diversionary tactics

Mr Banguero said that to date there had been 13 attacks on the town, in which 41

people had died and hundreds more were injured.

On Saturday, the rebels also targeted Corinto, Caldono, Jambalo and Santander.

In Corinto, a rebel reportedly drove a truck full of explosives onto the main

square, throwing himself from the vehicle just before it blew up.

President Santos said the attacks were a cowardly response to the successes of

the security forces in the area.

" The rebels are feeling the pressure, " he said.

" We know exactly what they're thinking: they're doing their best to distract the

security forces because we're taking away their sanctuaries and lairs, " he

added.

President Santos was referring to a raid by the security forces last week in

which, he said, they came close to catching Farc leader Alfonso Cano.

According to Mr Santos, Mr Cano left the camp only 12 hours before soldiers

moved in.

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