QUITO, Ecuador — Ecuador’s President Lenin Moreno said it was highly likely that three press workers kidnapped along the conflictive border with Colombia were killed and gave their drug-running captors 12 hours to demonstrate otherwise before launching a major military strike against them. While forensic experts are still studying the photos, Moreno said there was an “enormous possibility” they are authentic. ADVERTISEMENT“We’re a country of peace,” an emotional and visibly distraught Moreno said in late-night, televised comments from an airport hangar in Quito. Earlier this week, authorities dismissed as fake a statement signed by the captors claiming the journalists were killed during a military raid coordinated by the two governments. If proof the press workers were still alive wasn’t forthcoming by 11 a.m. Friday, he said Ecuador’s military would conduct with their more battle-tested Colombian counterparts a “devastating” campaign to punish the kidnappers.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer April 13, 2018 06:11 UTC