Colombia: February 27, 2004

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During the week, FARC tried some new tactics, by attacking neighborhoods in the south and seeking specific people to kidnap. They clashed with the police and troops left twelve soldiers, four rebels  and three civilians dead. FARC currently holds 1,600 kidnapping victims and is trying to barter them for jailed FARC rebels. President Uribe was not happy with the way the army and police handled this latest FARC attack, and fired six police and army commanders. Uribe and been demanding accountability and performance from the police and army (even as he increases the budget for troops and equipment) and these dismissals back it up.