AT LEAST 27 KILLED IN COLOMBIA CRASH, FIGHTING

PEREIRA, Colombia, Sept. 2 - A U.S.-made Colombian warplane crashed
today amid heavy fighting between leftist rebels and government
forces, killing seven airmen, the military said.

At least eight soldiers and 12 rebels also died in the fighting at a
communications complex on Mount Montezuma, 155 miles west of the
capital, Bogota. The clash was the bloodiest since President Clinton
visited Colombia on Wednesday to support President Andres Pastrana's
fight against drug traffickers and leftist rebels who protect drug
crops.

The AC-47 Vietnam-era gunship crashed into a mountain as it returned
to base from the fighting, killing the entire crew, the Colombian air
force said. All those aboard were Colombian, the air force said.

Gen. Jairo Garcia insisted the plane was not shot down. He said poor
visibility may have been a factor, because the crash occurred just
before dawn in cloudy weather. The plane had been providing fire
support for ground troops.

The fighting began Friday when about 600 rebels of the Revolutionary
Armed Forces of Colombia attacked about 50 government soldiers at the
communications complex, said Gen. Fernando Tapia, commander in chief
of the Colombian armed forces.

The rebels, who have been fighting Colombia's government for 36 years,
control vast tracts of southern jungle. They finance their insurgency
by taxing peasants who grow drug crops and protecting drug
traffickers.

Under a $1.3 billion aid package, Washington is sending 60 combat
helicopters to government security forces, and elite U.S. troops are
training Colombian anti-drug army troops. Author: Associated Press

AT LEAST 27 KILLED IN COLOMBIA CRASH, FIGHTING

PEREIRA, Colombia, Sept. 2 - A U.S.-made Colombian warplane crashed today
amid heavy fighting between leftist rebels and government forces, killing
seven airmen, the military said.

At least eight soldiers and 12 rebels also died in the fighting at a
communications complex on Mount Montezuma, 155 miles west of the capital,
Bogota. The clash was the bloodiest since President Clinton visited
Colombia on Wednesday to support President Andres Pastrana's fight against
drug traffickers and leftist rebels who protect drug crops.

The AC-47 Vietnam-era gunship crashed into a mountain as it returned to
base from the fighting, killing the entire crew, the Colombian air force
said. All those aboard were Colombian, the air force said.

Gen. Jairo Garcia insisted the plane was not shot down. He said poor
visibility may have been a factor, because the crash occurred just before
dawn in cloudy weather. The plane had been providing fire support for
ground troops.

The fighting began Friday when about 600 rebels of the Revolutionary Armed
Forces of Colombia attacked about 50 government soldiers at the
communications complex, said Gen. Fernando Tapia, commander in chief of the
Colombian armed forces.

The rebels, who have been fighting Colombia's government for 36 years,
control vast tracts of southern jungle. They finance their insurgency by
taxing peasants who grow drug crops and protecting drug traffickers.

Under a $1.3 billion aid package, Washington is sending 60 combat
helicopters to government security forces, and elite U.S. troops are
training Colombian anti-drug army troops.