Kidnapped Colombian governor found dead

THE governor of the southern Colombian province of Caqueta, Luis Francisco Cuellar, has been found dead less than a day after he was kidnapped by suspected rebels, authorities say.

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) quoted Colombia's President Alvaro Uribe as saying that the kidnappers had cut Cuellar's throat as they were being chased by security forces.

Cuellar was seized from his house on Monday in the provincial capital.

Officials are blaming the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) guerrillas for his killing. Cuellar was the most high-profile politician abducted since Uribe came to power in 2002.