Bogota - Marxist rebels stormed a hydro-electric plant in Colombia on Tuesday and were holding 100 people in an action to support a general strike by the country's main unions.
A guerilla commander, who identified himself as "JJ", told Reuters by telephone from the Anchicaya plant near the Pacific port of Buenaventura that Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia rebels would stage other attacks to support the strike.
Thousands of workers launched an indefinite, nation-wide strike on Tuesday in protest at austerity measures and for an end to free-market policies. Union leaders called for a peaceful stoppage but military sources warned the country's estimated 20,000 rebels might stage an offensive to coincide with the action.