Colombia’s FARC pays tribute to rebel military chief killed by air attack, names replacement

FARC pays tribute to leader killed in air attack

BOGOTA, Colombia — Colombia’s FARC rebels are paying tribute to their slain military commander Jorge Briceno and say nine other rebels died with him in last week’s air attack by the military.

Colombian authorities recovered seven bodies from the rebel camp in southern jungles.

The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia also say in a communique published on the Europe-based ANNCOL website Monday that Briceno has been replaced on the insurgency’s seven-man ruling Secretariat by Pastor Alape.

The FARC has been badly battered in recent years by Colombia’s U.S.-backed military. Briceno is the fourth Secretariat member to die since March 2008.

ANNCOL said the communique was issued Saturday.