The trial of three Irishmen accused of training Colombian rebels continues in the Colombian capital Bogota today.
Mr James Monaghan, Mr Niall Connolly and Mr Martin McCauley were arrested in August 2001 at Bogota's airport after visiting a FARC stronghold where prosecutors say they trained insurgents in explosives and other techniques.
Yesterday, one of the chief prosecution witnesses in the case refused to testify because he said he feared for his life.
Mr Edwin Giovanny Rodriguez, a jailed member of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, appeared in court in a bullet-proof vest surrounded by almost a dozen armed guards.
He said he would not testify unless he and his son were put in a witness-protection programme. The judge ordered both be put under protection and said he could testify tomorrow.
Prosecutors continued with their case yesterday, putting the army captain who arrested the three men on the stand.
Capt Huber Pulido said an anonymous informant began calling him in May 2001, saying there were was a group of foreigners, possibly Irishmen, staying in the rebel stronghold and training the rebels there.
The calls continued until August, 2001, when the caller, who was never identified, said the men were headed to Bogota, where Capt Pulido arrested them, the court heard.