SANTO DOMINGO.- Colombia’s ambassador yesterday said there’re no indications that to carry out the so-called "Operation Orion" he forged an alliance with a bloc of that country’s paramilitary forces Autodefensas Unidas (AUC) in which, according to testimony in a U.S. federal court, dozens of civilians from barrios of Medellín disappeared at the end of 2002.

In a statement, retired general Mario Montoya denied the accusation by former paramilitary leader Diego Fernando Murillo, alias "Don Berna," in New York Federal Court. "This operation allowed the dismantling of an endless number of criminal rings, of the FARC, of the ELN as well as paramilitary groups."

He said an investigation by Colombia’s Prosecutor in March, 2007, concluded that "all procedures were carried out in adherence to the corresponding judicial protocols and didn’t find indication or merit to initiate any type of investigation."

The head of operation "Jaque," in which the famous hostage Ingrid Betancourt was freed from the FARC,  said "Orion" was carried out in October, 2002 with the participation of the Army, the Police, the Office of the Prosecutor and the Medellín Mayor’s Office.

Montoya resigned as Colombian Army Commander on November 4, 2008, amid scandals that linked senior military officers to the execution of innocent civilians.

Visits Dominican military chief

Montoya met for more than one hour yesterday with Armed Forces minister Rafael Antonio Peña, but declined to answer reporters’ questions.