Pubdate: Sat, 04 Oct 2003 Source: Oklahoman, The (OK) Copyright: 2003 The Oklahoma Publishing Co. Contact: http://www.oklahoman.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/318 Author: Andrew Selsky, Associated Press Writer COLOMBIAN REBELS SAY THEY DOWNED U.S. PLANE BOGOTA, Colombia -- Colombia's smaller rebel army said it shot down a State Department plane that crashed last month, killing its Costa Rican pilot, while fumigating cocaine-producing crops. It was the first claim of responsibility in the Sept. 21 downing of the OV-10 plane in northeastern Colombia. Mario Alvarado, the pilot, was the sixth U.S. government contractor killed in Colombia this year. The claim by the National Liberation Army, seen Friday, was posted on the insurgent group's Web site. The State Department earlier acknowledged the plane apparently was "struck by hostile ground fire" during operations in Catatumbo, a mountainous and jungle-covered region near the Venezuelan border. The statement from the rebel group said that from Sept. 12-20, its fighters also shot and hit two other spray planes and two military helicopters that protect the planes. One of the helicopters had to make an emergency landing after being struck by rebel gunfire, the group said. A U.S. Embassy official said Friday the U.S. spray planes faced increasing gunfire as the fumigation of drug crops -- which are "taxed" and protected by rebels and their paramilitary foes -- gains pace in Colombia. "They were impacted more than 300 times by gunfire this year," the official told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. "They take ground fire on a regular basis." Colombian military commanders leading the operations in eastern Colombia said last week the rugged conditions in Catatumbo were very difficult and perhaps the most challenging the fumigation pilots have faced in Colombia. Colombia's bigger rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia are also dug into the Catatumbo region and are protecting the coca crops. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth +++++++