The leader of Colombia's main rebel group, Alfonso Cano, has been killed in combat hours after his nearby camp was bombed, authorities have said.

COLOMBIA’S military killed the field marshal and number two commander of the country’s main leftist rebel group in bombing raids, authorities said.

Colombian spies tricked leftist rebels into handing over kidnapped presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt and three US military contractors today in a daring helicopter rescue. No shots were fired during the rescue.

COLOMBIA freed Ingrid Betancourt and three US military contractors from leftist guerrillas after military spies tricked rebels into giving them up without a single injury, the defence minister said. In all, the operation freed 15 hostages including Colombian soldiers and police, Juan Manuel Santos said.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez urged Colombian rebels to lay down their weapons, unilaterally free dozens of hostages and end a decades-long armed struggle.