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Last update - 17:36 22/05/2008
Russia to extradite Israeli wanted in Colombia for training guerillas
By Reuters
Tags: Colombia 

Russia's Supreme court approved on Thursday a request from Colombia for the extradition of an Israeli man wanted for training illegal paramilitaries.

A Colombian court sentenced Yara Gal Klein, also known as Yair, in absentia in 2001 to 10 years in prison for training paramilitaries in the Andean country.

The former Israel Defense Forces officer was arrested in August at the Moscow airport, after Interpol tipped off Russia's Interior Ministry that he would attempt to travel there. Klein has said the Colombian military knew about his paramilitary training activities.
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Klein denied committing any crime and said he was sure the case was politicised. He addressed the court in Hebrew by video link, which was then translated into Russian.

He said he also feared for his safety in a Colombian jail.

"Colombia is the only country where the removal of organs is permitted and conducted. The majority of these organs are the result of murders in the prison where I will be imprisoned," Klein said.

In 1998, Colombian prosecutors accused Klein and three Israeli associates of providing paramilitary training in the Magdalena valley between 1987 and 1989 and also working as mercenaries for the Medellin drug cartel, a charge he denied.

Colombia's paramilitary movement began in the 1980s when wealthy landowners banded together for protection against attacks, kidnapping and extortion by leftist guerrillas in rural areas where state presence was weak.

But the militia groups soon turned to drug trafficking and kidnapping as they snatched land and killed peasants in the name of counter-insurgency.

Aided by billions of dollars in U.S. funding, President Alvaro Uribe has led a crackdown on rebels and negotiated the disarmament of the paramilitary movement. The rebels are still fighting, aided by finances from the country's drug trade.
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  1.   Training terrorist? An Israel? Probably for money.. 17:32  |  Sad Really 22/05/08
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  3.   Helping freedom-fighters 18:17  |  Jose 22/05/08
  4.   misleading headline 18:24  |  loza 22/05/08
  5.   disgusting. 18:51  |  frenz 22/05/08
  6.   Russia is the "best" friend of Israel 15:51  |  Abuya 21/10/08
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