Manaus, 6/27/2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia (Farc guerrillas, as they are better known), will be met with maximum force if they try to establish themselves in Brazil, says minister of Defense, José Viegas. The minister just visited the Amazon to observe Operation Timbó, a Brazilian Armed Forces exercise near the border with Columbia and Peru.

According to Viegas, the Army is committed to halting any incursions by Farc. He added that the Army is ready to help combat drug traffic in Brazil, as well, and that Armed Forces budget cuts made at the beginning of the year have now been mostly reallocated. (AB)