Colombian Rebel Leader Killed

Jorge Briceno, aka “Mono Jojoy,” had long operated as a senior leader of the FARC rebel force in Colombia. But on Thursday news came that Briceno had been killed in a military airstrike, dealing a blow to the guerrilla movement and providing a public relations coup for newly minted President Juan Manuel Santos.

The U.S. had put a $5 million bounty on Briceno’s head, and the White House welcomed news of his demise, calling it an “important victory” for Colombia. —JCL

The BBC:

One of the most senior leaders of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) has been killed, say reports.

Jorge Briceno, also known as Mono Jojoy, died in a military air strike in the Macarena region, known to be a Farc stronghold, local media said.

President Juan Manuel Santos said Jojoy’s death was “the hardest blow” in the history of the rebel movement.

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AP / Ricardo Mazalan

Jorge Briceno, military commander of the FARC rebel group, at a rebel camp in La Macarena, Colombia, in 2001.