John Walters

Meanwhile, in a move certain to increase pressure on the rebels, visiting US drug czar John Walters said that Washington will boost aid to Colombia's war against rebel groups, but gave no specifics.

Walters met Wednesday with armed forces head General Fernando Tapias, and the head of the National Police, General Luis Ernesto Gilibert, who brought him up to date with the latest advances in the war on drugs.

Colombia is receiving 1.3 billion dollars in US aid, mainly in anti-drug assistance.Part of the aid is to train and equip three anti-drug-trafficking battalions.