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Colombia's FARC Rebel Leader Recovering From Stroke


Rodrigo Londono, seen in this June 27 file photo, is also known as Timoleon Jimenez or Timochenko, the top commander of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, FARC, gives his speech during an act to commemorate the completion of the disarmament process of FARC rebels, in Buenavista, Colombia. On Sunday, July 2, 2017, Timochenko was hospitalized with stroke, and remains in intensive care in Colombia.
Rodrigo Londono, seen in this June 27 file photo, is also known as Timoleon Jimenez or Timochenko, the top commander of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, FARC, gives his speech during an act to commemorate the completion of the disarmament process of FARC rebels, in Buenavista, Colombia. On Sunday, July 2, 2017, Timochenko was hospitalized with stroke, and remains in intensive care in Colombia.

Doctors in Colombia say FARC rebel leader Rodrigo Londono is in satisfactory condition after suffering a stroke.

Londono, who is also known as Timoshenko, was taken to a hospital in the central city of Villavicencio, Sunday morning, after he slurred his speech and his arm felt numb.

Doctors say they expect him to fully recover and that he could be released within days.

"Thank you to everyone who is concerned about my health," Londono tweeted. "Everything is going well. I also want to thank the medical team for their care."

Londono's illness came just days after U.N. observers certified that his FARC rebels have completely disarmed, under terms of last year's peace deal with the Colombian government.

The deal ended a 50-year uprising against various Colombian governments that killed more than 220,000 people.

Londono said FARC is transforming itself from a fighting force into a legal and democratic political party.

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