BOGOTA, Jan. 7 (UPI) -- Colombian President Alvaro Uribe expressed dismay with rebels claiming the rights of their leader were violated when he was extradited to the United States.
"Members of FARC (the Marxist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) violate the human rights of those they capture ... deal in drugs and when we capture one of them go out and say those (from FARC) that are captured are having their right violated," said Uribe, El Tiempo reported Friday.
The Colombian president made reference to the New Year's Eve slaughter of 17 people, who police suspect were killed by rebel group.
The slayings occurred on the same day FARC leader Ricardo Ovidio Palmera was to be extradited the United States.
Palmera, also known as Simon Trinidad is wanted in the United States on drug trafficking and other charges.
The rebel leader was captured in neighboring Ecuador nearly a year ago and spent 2004 in a Colombia prison awaiting either trial at home or extradition.
In recent months, Colombia has sent wanted druglords to the United States as part of a collaborative effort to halt the drug trade and end the 40-year civil war. Washington has spent some $3 billion to fund the Colombia drug eradication project.
