Colombian rebels deny giving money to 2006 election campaign of Ecuador’s President Correa

Colombian rebels deny funding Correa’s campaign

BOGOTA — Colombian’s main rebel group denies it gave money to the 2006 campaign of Ecuador’s President Rafael Correa — and says it has never contributed to any election campaign in a neighboring nation.

The leftist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia also denounces “the gringo military invasion,” referring to an imminent U.S.-Colombian accord to significantly expand Washington’s military presence in Colombia.

The FARC’s ruling secretariat contends in a July 25 communique that video given to The Associated Press earlier this month by Colombian officials was manipulated by Bogota and Washington. The video shows the FARC’s No. 2 leader reading a letter in which contributions to Correa’s campaign are mentioned.

Correa denies taking money from the group.