US bars former Colombia army commander, cites extrajudicial killings

(Reuters) - The United States on Friday barred former Colombian army commander General Mario Montoya from entering the U.S., citing what it called credible evidence he had been involved in the extrajudicial killings of civilians.

Montoya has been placed on a designated list of people subject to U.S. sanctions "due to his involvement in gross violations of human rights," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.

In August 2021, the Colombian attorney general's office said it would bring charges against Montoya for his alleged responsibility in 104 killings from November 2007 to November 2008. A court later blocked the move.

Montoya was commander of Colombia's army between 2006 and 2008, a time when the army was fighting Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia rebels.

Montoya resigned in November 2008 amid allegations that army soldiers had killed civilians to present them as combat deaths. He has previously denied the charges against him.

Blinken cited credible evidence that during his tenure, Montoya "was involved in extrajudicial killings of civilians, which were falsely reported as combat deaths during Colombia’s internal armed conflict."

(Reporting by David Ljunggren; editing by Jonathan Oatis)

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