Female Colombian snipers defending Gaddafi in Libya

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Female snipers suspected of belonging to the Marxist guerilla group FARC from Colombia, have joined other mercenaries fighting to keep dictator Muammar Gaddafi in power, according to the reports received by Libyan rebels.

Prisoners and eyewitnesses in Misurata, the largest city in western Libya partially under rebel control, have given accounts of highly-trained women snipers from the South American country operating in the area along with other mercenaries loyal to Gaddafi.

Mercenaries fighting for Gaddafi’s regime are reportedly being paid up to 1000 dollars a day.

Information found on computers belonging to Raul Reyes, a FARC commander killed by Colombian soldiers in 2008, indicated that the guerilla group has long-standing links to Libya.

Investigators have also found a letter dated September 4 2000 addressed to 'Comrade Colonel Muammar Gaddafi', requesting a five-year loan of 100 million dollars to buy weapons such as surface-to-air missiles, by FARC.

FARC, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, has been fighting Colombia's government since the 1960s.

In an interview Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos had told the German magazine Der Spiegel that Libya had offered FARC 300 million dollars but admitted he did not know if the money had ever been received.

Rebels in Libya claim they have evidence that Col Gaddafi has also received assistance from mercenaries or supporters originating from countries as diverse as Algeria, Belarus and Chad.