Colombian rebels launch another attack on police in remote village

In this story: Soldiers claim to have killed up to 40 rebels Isolated villages an appealing target RELATED STORIES, SITES

BOGOTA, Colombia -- Colombia's largest guerrilla group killed 13 people including police and soldiers in a weekend firebombing attack on a police outpost in a northern, remote village near the Pacific Coast, military officials said Sunday.

Rebels with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, fired homemade bombs at the station in Carmen de Atrato in the Choco Province. Several buildings including a bank were damaged.

VIDEO According to CNN's Tim Lister, Colombian guerrillas have adopted new strategies for attacking remote police stations Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)     MESSAGE BOARD Colombia

Soldiers rescued 15 police officers from the station. An unknown number of rebels are believed to have died.

Also, in a clash Sunday in the town of Antiochia north of Bogota, the military killed three FARC rebels and seized several weapons. Three soldiers suffered injuries, a military statement said.

Saturday's firebombing at Carmen de Atrato was the latest in a series of rebel offensives that have killed dozens of police and civilians in Colombia. Authorities say FARC is affiliated with Colombian drug traffickers.

Rebels have stepped up attacks since the U.S. Congress agreed in June to supply $1.3 billion in aid to help Colombia combat FARC and the illegal drug trade.

U.S. President Bill Clinton is scheduled to visit Colombia later this month to show support for the government .

Soldiers claim to have killed up to 40 rebels

Military authorities said about 200 members of FARC descended on the 18-officer contingent in Carmen de Arato, located about 175 miles (280 km) northwest of Bogota, the capital.

Troops arrived early Sunday morning and a fierce, six-hour firefight ensued. Colombian soldiers claim they killed as many as 40 guerrillas. If accurate, the tally is one of the state's most deadly counteroffensives in recent memory.

Eight soldiers, three police officers and two civilians also died in the fighting.

U.S.-made Black Hawk helicopters flew in police and Colombian air force reinforcements. The army assumed control of the village Sunday afternoon, said Maj. Oscar Anzola, spokesman for the army's Fourth Brigade.

Isolated villages an appealing target

The FARC, with an estimated 17,000 members, controls roughly 40 percent of the Colombian terrain. Colombian President Andres Pastrana ceded some of the land to rebels last year in an attempt to appease them.

Guerrillas, however, continue to strike out against the government, with isolated villages proving an appealing target.

Beginning July 30, FARC rebels overran a police station in the mountain village of Arboleda, located about 90 miles (144 km) northwest of Bogota. Rebels used car bombs and hand-held explosives to level four buildings including the police station.

Authorities say 14 police officers and four civilians died in the attack.

To counter the FARC, the United States has agreed to provide 90 helicopters to Colombia's armed forces. U.S. service personnel will train the Colombians to use the helicopters in crop eradication missions and to combat the rebels.

American forces, however, are not supposed to engage in combat with FARC rebels.

Clinton confirmed Friday his plans for the Colombia trip later this month. He is to meet with President Andres Pastrana on August 30. Dennis Hastert, speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, and Sen. Joseph Biden, a Delaware Democrat, are to join him.

CNN's Ruth Morris, TThe Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

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