Around the World: Colombia

Kidnapped official hunted

Federal troops and police yesterday hunted for a state governor kidnapped by gunmen dressed in military uniforms in what authorities said appeared to be a surprise attack carried out by leftist FARC guerrillas.

A rebel kidnapping of a governor from his home underscores how Latin America's oldest guerrilla insurgency is still capable of high-profile operations despite years of being battered by Colombia's US-backed military offensive. Colombian authorities said the Teofilo Forero unit of the FARC rebel group was likely responsible for the kidnapping, during which one police guard was killed in an assault on the home of Luis Cuellar, the governor of Caqueta province.