Bogota - In what appears a rebel show of strength aimed at the country's new president, Mr Andres Pastrana, who assumes office today, at least 130 people have been killed in an unprecedented wave of guerrilla attacks.
The offensive, which began on Monday, saw 55 raids on military and economic targets in 18 of Colombia's 31 provinces. "The guerrillas traditionally step up attacks when a new president is about to take power, but the scale of this week's offensive is unheard of," said Mr Alfredo Rangel, the former national security advisor to the outgoing president, Mr Ernesto Samper.