Colombia rebel leader convicted

BOGOTA, Colombia -- A Colombian rebel commander was convicted and sentenced in absentia on Monday to 40 years in prison for the 1999 murder of three American pro-Indian activists, the federal prosecutor's office said. \nThe verdict came a day before Secretary of State Colin Powell's visit to Colombia. \nWashington broke off tentative peace contacts with Colombia's largest rebel faction following the killings of U.S. citizens Terence Freitas, Ingrid Washinawatok, and Leh'ena'e Gay. U.S. officials often cite the killings in characterizing the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, as a terrorist group that has turned on Americans. \nGerman Briceno, the rebel convicted of homicide, kidnapping and rebellion, is the brother of Jorge Briceno, the senior military chief of the FARC. A suspected low-level FARC member, Gustavo Bocota, was also convicted Monday by the court in the eastern city of Cucuta, according to the prosecutor's office in Bogota. \nBriceno, who remains an active rebel commander, was in charge of FARC forces in eastern Arauca state when the U.S. citizens were abducted and killed while visiting an Indian tribe in the area. \nThe Americans' bullet-ridden bodies were found just over the border in Venezuela on March 5, 1999, a week after they were kidnapped by rebels. \nUnder a barrage of international criticism, the FARC admitted its fighters killed the Americans. But the rebel group denied Briceno or more senior commanders had any role in ordering the Americans abducted and killed. They blamed a rogue lower-level commander and said he would be punished internally. \nThe FARC refused U.S. calls to hand over the killers to Colombian or U.S. justice. \nThe rebels are fighting a 37-year war against the Colombian government and right-wing paramilitary militias. They decry growing U.S. aid to the military as "Yankee intervention" in Colombia.