Colombia says two guerrilla leaders extradited to US

Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella said Wednesday he had ordered the transfer and extradition to the United States of two guerrilla leaders who had served as negotiators in peace talks under his predecessor Gustavo Petro.

The two men were identified as Willinton Henao and Geovany Andres Rojas, members of dissident factions of the now-defunct FARC guerrilla group. De la Espriella said three other people were also extradited.

Henao was part of the 33rd Front of FARC dissidents near the Venezuelan border. Rojas was the leader of the Border Commandos, described as a drug trafficking organisation active near Ecuador.

Both men were arrested last year but had not been extradited because of their roles in negotiations with the government. De la Espriella ended those talks after taking office this month.

The two former guerrilla leaders face multiple charges in the United States, including drug trafficking, narco-terrorism and illegal weapon possession.

General Francis L. Donovan, head of US Southern Command, visited Bogota on Wednesday to meet military leaders and discuss joint efforts against narco-trafficking. De la Espriella, who took office on August 7, has promised to confront cocaine-smuggling guerrilla factions with Washington's help.