Colombia says incursion into Ecuador was necessary

Sun Mar 2, 2008 9:38pm EST
 
Email | Print | | Reprints | Single Page
[-] Text [+]
BOGOTA, March 2 (Reuters) - The Colombian government said on Sunday it had been necessary for Colombian troops to enter Ecuador for a military operation during which it killed a top FARC guerrilla commander.

Foreign Minister Fernando Araujo said in a televised statement that it had been "indispensable" for Colombian troops to enter Ecuadorean territory during the bombing raid on Saturday to kill Raul Reyes, a leader of Marxist FARC rebels.

In response to the incursion, Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa sent troops to the Colombian border and expelled Colombia's ambassador on Sunday.

(Reporting by Pat Markey, Editing by Stacey Joyce and Sandra Maler)



 

Featured Broker sponsored link

Editor's Choice

Photo

A selection of our best photos from the past 24 hours.  View Slideshow 

Most Popular on Reuters

Photo
Bearing Witness
Reuters award-winning multimedia piece, reflecting five years of reporting the war in Iraq.