Top Colombian rebel suspect captured

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http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/americas/06/12Top Colombian rebel suspect capturedStory Highlights


•Rebel known as Martin Cuero reportedly captured in Calarca, Colombia

•Cuero a top aide to a guerrilla leader for FARC, authorities say

•Suspect wanted on charges that include murder, terrorism and rebellion

BOGOTA, Colombia (CNN) -- The Colombian military has captured one of the top leaders for a Marxist rebel group waging war on the government for more than 40 years, authorities said.

The rebel known as Martin Cuero was captured Thursday in the northwestern Colombian city of Calarca, the military and President Alvaro Uribe announced on their Web pages.

Cuero was fourth in the hierarchy for one of the branches of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, known by its Spanish acronym FARC, and a top aide to a guerrilla leader who goes by the name of Mono Joyjoy, authorities said.

Cuero, reportedly a FARC member for 20 years, was in charge of working with Colombian drug lords to use profits from that collaboration to buy weapons, officials said.

He was wanted on charges that include murder, terrorism and rebellion.