MAGUINDANAO PROVINCE, PHILIPPINES - JANUARY 26: Policemen load into a truck the body of their comrade during a retrieval operation on January 26, 2015 in Mamasapano, Maguindanao Province, Philippines. Dozens of elite policemen were killed after a clash with a Muslim rebel group. Lawmen would suppose serve the arrest warrants on January 25, 2015 for criminals led by Malaysian bomb maker Zulkifli bin Hir, known in military and police officials as Marwan, when the group clashed with the guerillas under Commander Guiawan of Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, a breakaway group of the Moro Islamic Liberation, the countrys largest rebel group engaged in peace talks with Manila. The death toll of government fatalities in the fierce firefight reached fifty. (Photo by Jeoffrey Maitem/Getty Images) (2015 Getty Images)
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) – A U.S. missionary was detained, then released, in Colombia for alleged collaboration with the country's main leftist rebel group.
Police say 59-year old Minnesota native Martin Stendal surrendered Wednesday night. A judge later released him, saying there was not enough evidence to keep him detained.
Police Col. Flavio Meza said Thursday that officials had issued a warrant for Stendal's arrest on charges of supporting terrorism and collaborating with FARC rebels. They claimed Stendal, who is a longtime resident of Colombia, had traveled to Cuba and Panama as a messenger for the guerrillas.
A judge ruled the case against Stendal was weak.
Stendal says in a video posted online that someone laid a trap for him, that his trips into rebel territory to distribute Bibles and radios were for ministering.
Since 2012, the peasant-based FARC has been in peace talks in Havana aimed at ending a half-century-old conflict.
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