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Colombian rebels

offensive kills 40

BOGOTA: Colombian Marxist guerrillas launched an offensive in the central and eastern regions of the country on Monday clashing with army and police, killing more than 40 people.

General Hernando Camilo Zuniga, the country's acting defence minister, told a news conference that rebels ambushed soldiers and attacked small towns in a cynical commemoration of Liberal President Ernesto Samper's first year in office.

Samper took office on August 7, 1994, after winning a narrow victory against his Conservative opponent, Andres Pastrana.

General Luis Enrique Montenegro, the police force's second in command, told local television the rebel movement conducted their biggest attack on the town of Miraflores, located in the eastern plains.

Using grenades and rockets, about 300 rebels destroyed the town's police station and government buildings, killing nine police officers and losing 13 of their own, he said.

Montenegro said the attack appeared to also be in retaliation for a government programme to spray illegal drug plantations with a destructive herbicide.-Reuter