Colombian media on Friday published conflicting stories about “Alfonso Cano.” According to news website La Silla Vacia the supreme leader of the FARC has been killed, but authorities and other media denied the death of the guerrilla group’s number one.
La Silla Vacia claimed that Cano, whose real name is Guillermo Leon Saenz, was killed on Wednesday in the central Tolima department. According to the website, it was not until Friday that his body was identified.
News website Dinero have reported that in the last few days, intense fighting in the region has resulted in the death of 24 guerrillas. The combat was confirmed by state radio station Radio Nacional de Colombia.
Frank Bajak, Associated Press correspondent in Bogota tweeted “AP has found no truth to rumors FARC leader dead.“
Other websites, like that of newspaper El Espectador, also denied the FARC leader’s had been killed.
Colombia’s National Police sent out a tweet informing “that the rumor of the death of Alfonso Cano is FALSE.” The website of Colombia’s Defense ministry crashed temporarily following the rumor, but was restored later in the evening.