Colombia: Gunmen Kill Arauca Governor's Secretary

www.voanews.com VOA News 05 Feb 2003, 03:38 UTC

Authorities in eastern Colombia say gunmen have shot and killed the private secretary to the regional governor.

Officials in the province of Arauca say the unidentified assailants fired at Rosario Camejo as she left her home Tuesday on her way to the office of Governor Oscar Munoz.

Authorities closed roads and waterways into nearby Venezuela as part of the search for the assailants.

Arauca is one of Colombia's most embattled regions, where leftist rebels, rightist paramilitaries and the government are battling for control of the state's oil-rich plains.

Colombia's RCN radio reports the government has rejected a U.N. proposal for a regional dialogue with the armed groups.

Rebels recently abducted two foreign journalists in Arauca. The two, British reporter Ruth Morris and American photographer Scott Dalton, were released unharmed Saturday after 11 days in captivity.

Seventy U.S. special forces troops are in Arauca to train Colombian troops in protecting an oil pipeline frequently targeted in rebel bombings.