Bogota - A senior Colombian army commander said yesterday that a rebel offensive which left at least 53 people dead and 21 wounded was aimed at surrounding and isolating the country's capital.
"These criminals hoped to isolate Bogota and render it incommunicado with surrounding regions, but we gave them a good lesson and repelled their attack," said Gen. Arcesio Barrero, of the offensive by guerrillas of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).