14 November 2008

MADRID - The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the militant Basque separatist group ETA held meetings in Colombia where they exchanged information about combat tactics, the Spanish radio station Cadena Ser reported Thursday.

The two organisations met at least three times, reported Cadena Ser, quoting documents seized from ETA by Spanish police.

One of the 2003 meetings, which involved two ETA representatives and two FARC leaders, was held at a FARC camp and lasted a week.

According to the report, information was exchanged on combat tactics and methods of activating explosives through mobile phones.

FARC offered to hide ETA fugitives and asked ETA to supply medical experts who would work at FARC prison camps for more than a year.

FARC also asked ETA to stage attacks and kidnappings on its behalf in Europe, and requested anti-air missiles from the Basque group, Cadena Ser said.

In the summer, the Spanish judiciary launched an investigation into possible links between FARC and ETA after Colombia said FARC had sought contacts with ETA in order to stage attacks against Colombians in Madrid.

Shortly afterwards, a suspected leading FARC member was arrested near Madrid.

[dpa / Expatica]