Pubdate: Thu, 28 Jun 2001 Source: Associated Press (Wire) Copyright: 2001 Associated Press Author: Jared Kotler COLOMBIAN DRUG WAR CLASHES HEAT UP BOGOTA -- Fierce jungle fighting in Colombia's main coca growing region killed 30 soldiers and 26 leftist guerrillas on Friday, the army said - the heaviest casualties since a U.S.-backed anti-narcotics offensive got underway late last year. The battle broke out at an army base near the riverside town of Puerto Leguizamo, 320 miles south of Bogota in southern Putumayo state, a launching point for Colombian marine operations against rebels and drug traffickers. The army said it sent in reinforcements and was pursuing retreating guerrillas of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC. Only six guerrilla bodies had been recovered, but army Gen. Nestor Ramirez put the number of dead ``narco-terrorists'' at 26. He said the soldiers were out on anti-narcotics operations when they came into contact with the FARC rebels. The heavy troop losses were a new setback for Colombia's U.S.-backed military, which has struggled to regain the upper hand against rebels growing mightier with profits from ties to the drug trade. The bloodshed also contrasted with recent breakthroughs in peace talks to end Colombia's 37-year conflict. - --- MAP posted-by: Josh Sutcliffe