Colombia: Uribe sees corruption in attack that freed rebel
(Read article summary)Gustavo Anibal Giraldo, a Colombia ELN rebel leader who escaped prison guards Wednesday, is wanted for the murders of eight soldiers, a Catholic bishop, and the kidnapping of three Americans. Was there insider help?
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Colombian President Álvaro Uribe warned that there were "signs of corruption" in the security breach Wednesday that freed a leader of Colombia's second largest rebel group.
Mr. Uribe told his ministers to investigate the escape of Gustavo Anibal Giraldo, also known as "Pablito," from custody in the northeastern city of Arauca, Colombia, CNN International reports. Mr. Giraldo, one of the leaders of the rebel National Liberation Army (ELN), was being transferred to a court hearing by security officials when rebels on motorcycles attacked the convoy, killing one guard and injuring another.
"There is no explanation for this escape," Uribe told reporters. "There are signs of corruption around this that are very troubling."
The new site Colombia Reports writes that Colombian security forces are scouring the border with Venezuela for Giraldo, and have offered a $900,000 reward for information that leads to Giraldo's recapture.
Luis Alberto Ortiz, Police Commander in Arauca, said to Caracol Radio that the guerrilla fled to neighboring Venezuela as the Police found the vehicle and the motorcycles used by the guerillas who helped "Pablito" escaped in a hamlet across the river from Venezuela.
