Colombian rebel taken to top jail

Ricardo Palmera was transferred under heavy guard

A senior Colombian rebel leader has been transferred to a high security prison following his capture last week.

Ricardo Palmera - better known as Simon Trinidad - was flown to Combita prison about 100 kilometres (60 miles) north of the capital, Bogota, on Saturday.

A concrete and steel complex, Combita houses drug barons and top rebels as well as murderers and rapists.

Mr Palmera, a commander of Colombia's main leftist rebel group, was arrested in Ecuador on 2 January.

Razor-wire fencing

Mr Palmera is the most senior member of the FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) to be captured in four decades of civil war.

He was a member of the group's 22-strong body in charge of the rebel army and played a key role in failed talks with the government in 2002.

Palmera is the most senior FARC leader caught in 40 years of conflict

The detainee left the office of the attorney-general in Bogota early on Saturday, guarded by special forces soldiers.

He was taken to a military airport where a helicopter flew him to Combita high-security prison.

The facility - surrounded by five rings of razor-wire fencing and motion-detection systems - is located in the central city of Tunja.

Mr Palmera faces dozens of counts of murder, kidnapping and rebellion, and could be sentenced to up to 60 years in jail if convicted.

His lawyer says he denies most of the accusations, but intends to plead guilty to charges of fomenting rebellion, according to the Associated Press news agency.