Colombian elite backed death squads, former paramilitary commander says

Salvatore Mancuso testified to peace tribunal that rightwing AUC worked hand in glove with business, military and political elite

A notorious former commander of Colombia's largest paramilitary group has revealed new details of how rightwing death squads worked side by side with the country's business, military and political elite to sow terror in the countryside and wipe out leftwing insurgencies.

Salvatore Mancuso told Colombia's peace tribunal this week that state institutions were not only complicit in the expansion of the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) but actively coordinated with them, giving orders to wipe out anyone suspected of aligning with communist rebels.