December 31, 2002

  The army says it has improved the security situation over the past year. Troops have killed at least 2,000 rebels in 2002, and captured or arrested another 5,000. The breakdown by faction was; dead, FARC-1,487, ELN-424, AUC- 186. Rebels suffered more deaths due to fighting between factions. Over a thousand civilians were killed as well.