US-TRAINED ARMY UNIT INVOLVED IN COLOMBIA CLASHES

BOGOTA (Associated Press)--Counterdrug troops trained by the U.S. clashed
with leftist rebels over the weekend in Colombia's main cocaine-producing
province, part of fighting in several regions that killed 26 guerrillas,
the army reported Monday.

Soldiers trained under a $1.3 billion U.S. aid package for Colombia were
among those who engaged the leftist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia,
or FARC, in southern Putumayo State on Sunday, an army spokesman said.
Eight guerillas were killed in the battle.

In separate fighting Sunday, troops killed 15 other FARC members in towns
around Cundinamarca state, which includes the capital, Bogota, according to
an army statement. Three other FARC guerrillas died in clashes elsewhere.
There were no reported army casualties in the weekend fighting.

Putumayo, bordering Ecuador, is Colombia's most important source of coca,
the raw material for cocaine. The FARC, Colombia's largest guerrilla
faction, taxes and protects drug laboratories and coca plantations in the area.

Although Washington insists its aid isn't for counterinsurgency purposes,
U.S. officials consider any rebel units involved in the drug trade a
legitimate target for U.S.-trained counterdrug troops. U.S. Special Forces
trainers have given instruction to some 3,000 counterdrug troops based in
southern Colombia.

The latest deaths bring to 52 the number of FARC fighters killed in the
past week, according to the army. Twenty-six FARC rebels died last week in
fighting with troops in southern Guaviare state, another major cocaine
producing region.

Peace negotiations between the government and the 16,000-strong FARC, begun
in early 1999, have yielded little of substance.

A committee of well-known Colombians plans to propose a bilateral
cease-fire Tuesday. The proposal would halt fighting and require the FARC
to cease kidnappings while peace talks proceed.