December 24, 2002

  Police arrested a FARC rebel trying to smuggle 137 pounds of explosives into a government building in a town 320 kilometers south of the capital. 

The government issued arrest warrants for four senior FACR leaders. The men are accused of drug dealing and will now have a harder time moving around.

A dissident faction of ELN, the ERG (Guevarista Revolutionary Army), killed a hostage after kidnapping 15 people. All but four of the people were later freed. The ERG has about 150 armed members and is thought to be drifting into banditry.

Meanwhile, ELN rebels killed two civilians and wounded 11 others when they blew up a bus.