Colombia: October 18, 1999

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Police prevented FARC rebels from kidnapping tourists on a second boat, after seizing 13 tourists on another boat.

October 16; The government and FARC agreed to begin peace talks on the 24th. Some fourteen people were killed in clashes between troops and FARC guerillas 500 kilometers south of the capital.

October 13; A joint criminal investigation by US and Colombian officials resulted in the arrest of 31 leaders of the drug trade in Colombia and Mexico. Colombia said it is willing to send many of these people to America for trial. In the past, extradition like this has caused much violence in Colombia as the drug gangs attacked police and judges.