Colombian army 'kills rebel head'

The war between the Colombian army and Farc is a bloody one

The Colombian army says it has killed a leading member of the country's largest left-wing guerrilla group, the Farc, during an assault against rebel troops.

The Colombian defence minister described the death of Tomas Medina Caracas as the biggest blow ever to the group's logistical capacity.

Medina was said to control the Farc's drugs and weapons-smuggling operations.

The news comes as Venezuelan President, Hugo Chavez, is mediating between the government and the Farc.

The Colombian Defence Minister, Juan Manuel Santos, said Tomas Medina Caracas, nicknamed "El Negro Acacio" (The Black Acacia), was killed with 16 other guerrillas in an army raid on his jungle camp.

"He was a key to Farc financing and support and controlled drug trafficking and purchase of arms, explosives and munitions in the east of the country," Mr Santos said at a press conference.

Under President Alvaro Uribe, Colombia's armed forces have pushed the FARC back into the jungles and violence from the 40-year conflict has eased.

But the rebels are still a potent force - 11 soldiers were killed in an ambush at the weekend.

Chavez mission

The killing of Farc's leader comes as the left-wing President of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, who visited Colombia last week, agreed to invite Colombian rebels to discuss a hostage release deal.

President Hugo Chavez (L) agreed to play the mediator

Mr Chavez hopes to secure the release of hostages by the Farc in exchange for rebels held by the authorities.

There are fears that the killing of Tomas Medina Caceres could complicate the mission undertaken by Mr Chavez.

Meanwhile, a delegation of the Red Cross has travelled to a jungle region in the west of Colombia to recover the bodies of 11 regional politicians killed earlier this year by the Farc.

Media reports in Colombia say the delegation has already taken custody of the bodies, but there has been no word from the Red Cross yet.

A family member of one of the politicians, Diego Quintero, told the BBC he expected the bodies to be with the authorities by Tuesday.

The politicians had been held hostage by the Farc for more than five years.