RESCUE WORKERS CARRY AN EMPTY COFFIN IN BOGOTA, 1997-12-22 (photo)

BOG04:COLOMBIA-ATTACK:BOGOTA,23DEC97 -Two civilian rescue workers carry an empty coffin into the military base in Pasto, December 22 in southern Narino province. The army began preparing coffins to receive soldiers feared killed in a rebel attack early December 21. At least 22 soldiers were feared killed when Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrillas overran a mountaintop base in the Cerro de Patascoy about eight hours by road and river from Pasto. Bad weather and the threat of further guerrilla action has prevented army reinforcements from getting into the area and recovering the corpses. COLOMBIA ATTACK