Associated Press

PEREIRA, Colombia, Sept. 2 –– A U.S.-made Colombian warplane crashed today amid heavy fighting between leftist rebels
and government forces, killing seven airmen, the military said.

At least eight soldiers and 12 rebels also died in the fighting at a communications complex on Mount Montezuma, 155 miles
west of the capital, Bogota. The clash was the bloodiest since President Clinton visited Colombia on Wednesday to support
President Andres Pastrana's fight against drug traffickers and leftist rebels who protect drug crops.

The AC-47 Vietnam-era gunship crashed into a mountain as it returned to base from the fighting, killing the entire crew, the
Colombian air force said. All those aboard were Colombian, the air force said.

Gen. Jairo Garcia insisted the plane was not shot down. He said poor visibility may have been a factor, because the crash
occurred just before dawn in cloudy weather. The plane had been providing fire support for ground troops.

The fighting began Friday when about 600 rebels of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia attacked about 50
government soldiers at the communications complex, said Gen. Fernando Tapia, commander in chief of the Colombian armed
forces.

The rebels, who have been fighting Colombia's government for 36 years, control vast tracts of southern jungle. They finance
their insurgency by taxing peasants who grow drug crops and protecting drug traffickers.

Under a $1.3 billion aid package, Washington is sending 60 combat helicopters to government security forces, and elite U.S.
troops are training Colombian anti-drug army troops.