Colombia: Intelligence head resigns over UN photo error

ANKARA

The head of Colombian military intelligence, Pena Bermeo, will resign after causing President Ivan Duque to show fake pictures at his UN General Assembly address, local daily El Tiempo newspaper reported Monday.

Duque showed photographs last week of Colombian illegal armed militia members allegedly inside Venezuela's border in an attempt to prove a link between Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and the guerrillas.

It turned out, however, that the images were not taken in Venezuela as he presented, but were taken in Colombia.

Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez cleared up the issue during her speech to the Assembly on Friday, with giving the exact coordinates of the images.

El Tiempo, citing official sources, said the Defense Ministry requested Joint Intelligence Command Director General Pena Bermeo withdraw from active duty for giving false information to the president.

"As General of Colombia I am aware of the need to answer for my actions and of my subordinates, and I act accordingly," Bermeo said in a letter.

The announcement of a name to replace Bermo is expected to be made in the next few hours by the Defense Ministry and the General Command of the Armed Forces, according to the newspaper.

ANKARA

It turned out, however, that the images were not taken in Venezuela as he presented, but were taken in Colombia.

Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez cleared up the issue during her speech to the Assembly on Friday, with giving the exact coordinates of the images.

"As General of Colombia I am aware of the need to answer for my actions and of my subordinates, and I act accordingly," Bermeo said in a letter.

The announcement of a name to replace Bermo is expected to be made in the next few hours by the Defense Ministry and the General Command of the Armed Forces, according to the newspaper.