Officials allege Cuban linked to FARC

HAVANA, March 10 (UPI) -- Mexican authorities are investigating what role a man alleged to be a Cuban intelligence agent played in linking Mexicans to Colombia's insurgency.

Authorities allege Mario Dagoberto Diaz Orgaz led a group of Mexican students to an Ecuadoran camp of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia -- FARC from its Spanish initials, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday. During a Colombian forces' attack on the camp March 1, a top FARC guerrilla and at least 26 others, including at least four Mexicans, were killed. Mexican intelligence officials say Diaz Orgaz left the FARC camp before the bombing.

The attack touched off a diplomatic crisis among Colombia, Venezuela and Ecuador.

Diaz Orgaz's suspected links with Venezuela could heighten concerns by Mexican and U.S. officials that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's ties to Cuba encourage the efforts of Cuba's intelligence services.

"This demonstrates that the ability of Cuban intelligence to spread its tentacles to other countries is very high," said Brian Latell, a former Cuba expert at the Central Intelligence Agency. "Cuban intelligence, which has been intimately linked with the FARC since the mid '60s, is having a resurgence due to the availability of massive amounts of Venezuelan money."