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Southern Colombia hit by blackout

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4216640.stm

Nearly three million people are without electricity in south-western Colombia after suspected rebel attacks.

Officials said they believed bomb attacks on a number of electrical towers may have caused the blackout which is affecting three provinces.

Energy company Isa said it was trying to import power from neighbouring Ecuador.

Attacks on infrastructure have declined in recent years, but the main rebel group has been stepping up pressure.

Rebels from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) and drug traffickers are known to operate in the region.

An unnamed army official said he thought the Farc had used dynamite to blow up three 50-m (165-foot) tall towers.

Isa spokesman Gabriel Gallon said that was the "most probable" cause of the outage which left Cauca, Narina and Putumayo without power.

Left-wing rebels have been fighting state forces in a four-decade conflict which also involves right-wing paramilitary groups.

Tens of thousands of civilians are known to have been killed in the conflict.

By MatteoCapogreco on Sep 5, 2005, 10:57 in Friendly Talkzone.

Desideria (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Sep 5, 2005, 13:24:

According to El Pais the city or the Departamento de Valle del Cauca was not affected.
Cheers,
Desi

"When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?"(First Witch in Macbeth)

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Gator says on Sep 5, 2005, 19:41:

Wife's Sisters... who live just outside of Cali were promptly called by the wife and reported no problems.

"Credidi pretio parvo emere et magno vendere tibi in animo fuisse!" .

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kernow62 says on Sep 5, 2005, 20:41:

GDL is it this one by Irish born Edmund Burke? "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."

I enjoy quotes, it is amazing how old quotes can be applicable to current events. Like these from Winston Churchill.

"You can always count on Americans to do the right thing - after they've tried everything else."

"When you are winning a war almost everything that happens can be claimed to be right and wise."

"To jaw-jaw is always better than to war-war."

"Those who can win a war well can rarely make a good peace and those who could make a good peace would never have won the war."

The maxim of the British people is "Business as usual."

"The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter."

And here are a couple that ring true after hurricane Katrina.

"It's no use saying, "We are doing our best." You have got to succeed in doing what is necessary. "

"It is more agreeable to have the power to give than to receive."

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