FARC Denies 'Abortion Controversy'; Says 'Counters Their Principles'

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Colombian FARC rebels are denying that Hector Albeidis Arboleda Buitrago, who is being accused for performing forced abortions on guerrillas, is part of their group, and that they do not have abortion policies that counter their "principles," FOX News reports.

The rebel group denies any regulations saying that pregnant guerrillas must have abortions.

Arboleda, who is believed to have performed such abortions, was arrested in Madrid in December but was released following precautionary measures were undertaken. He is wanted by the Interpol for "aggravated torture, non-consensual abortion and criminal conspiracy."

According to the FARC, the controversy surrounding their group and Arboleda is a "judicial and media set up" and that the abortion accusations are "false and shameful." The group denies that FARC "rapes women or uses the bodies of guerrillas who have fallen in combat to give anatomy classes."

The 40-year-old Arboleda is currently being investigated by the Colombian authorities for reports stating that he carried out hundreds of forced abortions between 1998 and 2000.

BBC reports that the FARC is the oldest and largest group among Colombia's left-wing rebels and is one of the world's wealthiest guerrilla armies. Founded in 1984, the group declared its intention to overthrow the government and install a Marxist regime during the 80s. FARC had about 16,000 fighters in 2001, but the number was reduced to 8,000 due to desertations. Their leader, Manuel "Sureshot" Marulanda, passed away in 2008 from a heart attack and in 2010, the group's top military leader, Jorge Briceno was killed in a raid in Macarena. Meanwhile, Alfonso Cano, the leader who took over from Marulanda, was killed in a bombing in a ground raide in Cauca in 2011. FARC is now led by Rodrigo Londono, known as Timochenko.

CNN reported in late December that Colombian President President Juan Manuel Santos is set to visit President Obama at the White House in February, shortly before what is believed to be a historic peace agreement between Bogota and the FARC.

President Obama and President Santos are set to meet on Feb. 4, during which they will commemorate the launching of Plan Colombia, a U.S.-led effort that has provided $10 billion in assistance to Colombia's government and security forces since 2000.

CNN reports that Santos plans to carry out a potential peace deal with FARC to a national referendum. The Colombian government has a deadline of March 23 for the deal. According to the White House, the U.S. supports the peace process between the Colombian government and FARC.