Colombian general denies aiding paramilitaries

Colombian general denies aiding paramilitaries
Posted on Tue, Aug. 12, 2008


BOGOTA -- The leader of the Colombian army is denying allegations he supplied guns to far-right paramilitaries.

Gen. Mario Montoya says he is asking prosecutors to clear his name by investigating and discrediting the accusations by a former paramilitary leader.

Colombia's paramilitary groups have killed thousands of people they said were sympathetic to the leftist rebels.

''I have learned that a bandit called Diomedes has made false claims against me, asserting that in April of 2002 that Gen. Montoya, as commander of the 4th Brigade, had delivered a vehicle with seven rifles,'' Montoya said.

``What the man said I consider totally false, and it would be totally ridiculous to think a brigade commander can give away a vehicle.''

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/americas/story/639289.html