Several days of intense combat on Colombia's border with Central America border left some 40 FARC rebels, and several civilians and police, dead. Fighting continued around Narino. There were also reports of fighting between FARC and right-wing militias.
August 1; Seven civilians and eight police were killed when FARC attacked the town of Narino, 450 kilometers northwest of Bogota. The rebels destroyed forty homes and several businesses and a police building, as well as kidnapping several people. Some 300 rebels launched the attack. There were 35 police in the town who fought back. Rumors continue to circulate that America will send combat troops to help Colombia fighting rebels. At the present there are 300 U.S. government personnel in Colombia (200 military, the rest CIA. DEA and the like.)