The attack killed one person and injured 72, including at least one American. It was the first time rebels had tried to target U.S. citizens in a terrorist-style attack in Bogotá.
Three U.S. government contractors are being held as prisoners of war by Colombia's largest rebel group after their plane crashed in rebel territory last February. A fourth American and a Colombian soldier who were aboard the plane were executed by members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, known as the FARC.
The rebels have been angry at the United States because over the past three years, it has provided $2.5 billion to Colombia to help the government battle rebels and drug traffickers.
A man, identified by police as a member of a commando unit of the FARC, threw hand grenades into two bars Saturday night. Both bars — the Bogotá Beer Company and Palos de Moguer — were popular with U.S. soldiers, contractors, journalists and other expatriates. *** [A bit off topic, Telemundo was just reporting that a Venz congressman charges that 11,000 Cubans have been brought in as a "parallel" army. Just thought I'd throw that out there. I've been hearing similar things for years now, but this is the first time I had heard such a figure. I have no idea if it is realistic. 2 posted on 11/20/2003 10:05 PM EST by marron ]