In brief: Rebel group frees police, soldiers
VILLAVICENCIO, Colombia – Colombia’s main rebel group on Monday freed what it says were its last 10 soldier and police captives, all of whom had been held in jungle prisons for at least 12 years.
The release of the six police and four soldiers highlighted efforts to seek peace talks by Latin America’s oldest and most potent guerrilla band, which has been weakened in recent years by Colombia’s U.S.-backed military.
Flown from a jungle rendezvous to this city on Colombia’s eastern plains aboard a loaned Brazilian air force helicopter emblazoned with the Red Cross logo, the freed captives waved jubilantly.
The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, known as the FARC, had announced Monday’s liberation on Feb. 26 in tandem with a halt in ransom kidnappings as a revenue source.
President Juan Manuel Santos had no immediate comment on the releases.
Bounty posted for militant leader
ISLAMABAD – The United States has offered a $10 million bounty for the founder of the Pakistani militant group blamed for the 2008 attacks in the Indian city of Mumbai that killed 166 people.
The U.S. posted the bounty for Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed on the government’s Rewards for Justice website today.
It also offered up to $2 million for the deputy leader of Lashkar-e-Taiba, Hafiz Abdul Rahman Makki.
Lashkar-e-Taiba was allegedly founded in the 1990s with the help of Pakistan’s intelligence agency to pressure archenemy India over the disputed territory of Kashmir.
Pakistan banned the militant group in 2002 after receiving pressure from the U.S. But analysts say it has done little to crack down on the group, and Saeed and his deputy operate openly.
Aftershock leaves city undamaged
MEXICO CITY – Mexico was shaken Monday afternoon by a strong apparent aftershock from a powerful earthquake that hit late last month.
Officials said there were no immediate reports of serious damage or injuries from the quake, which had an initial magnitude of 6.3.
Office towers rocked back and forth for several seconds in the center of Mexico City after the quake shortly after noon Monday.
Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard said via Twitter that no major damage had been reported by helicopter overflights of the city and public transport and other services were functioning normally.