Colombian Army Goes After Rebel Chiefs

Colombia's armed forces were scouring the country's southwest region Friday in the hopes of capturing leftist guerrilla leaders suspected of masterminding two attacks in as many days that killed 17 people, most of them civilians.

The violence highlighted a recent sharp rise in attacks by Colombia's largest rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, since the beginning of the year.

Security analyst Alfredo Rangel said guerrilla attacks have actually been on the rise for two years, and they are now intensifying. 

January saw the most attacks in a single month since 2.004, he said.