BOGOTA – Soldiers killed a commander of the 44th Front of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, who was responsible for providing supplies to the squads that guard the hostages being held by the guerrilla group, the army said.

Nelson Velasquez was killed on Saturday in a clash between army troops and FARC fighters in Cumare, an area near the southern city of San Jose del Guaviare.

Velasquez, who had belonged to the FARC for nine years, was also responsible for selling cocaine base produced in illegal drug labs.

The guerrilla chief was accused of carrying out numerous attacks on the security forces and towns in the southern province of Guaviare.