At least eight soldiers and four rebels were killed in heavy fighting between government troops and the leftist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), the army commander said Tuesday, according to dpa. General Reinaldo Castellanos said seven soldiers were killed and two wounded in clashes late Monday with FARC in Cubarral, in the central province of Meta. He added that four FARC rebels died in that fighting. In other clashes with guerrillas in San Juan de Villalobos, in the southern province of Putumayo, a soldier was killed and another 20 people wounded, Castellanos said. FARC recently blew up two electricity towers, leaving Putumayo without power. Rebels have also set up blockades on roads in the region, leading to petrol shortages. --SP 2328 Local Time 2028 GMT
