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DATE=7/27/1999 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT TITLE=COLOMBIA-U.S. PLANE (L-ONLY) NUMBER=2-252227 BYLINE=BILL RODGERS DATELINE=BOGOTA CONTENT= VOICE AT : INTRO: U-S and Colombian officials are denying a newspaper report that a U-S military plane which crashed in southern Colombia Friday was gathering intelligence information on leftist guerrillas. As VOA's Bill Rodgers reports from Bogota, the officials maintain the aircraft was on an anti- narcotics mission. TEXT: The Colombian newspaper El Espectador reported Tuesday that the downed De Havilland RC-7 plane was monitoring communications and gathering other intelligence on the Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces, known as the FARC. Citing the plane's manufacturer and other sources, the newspaper said the U-S military plane was carrying sophisticated electronic monitoring and recording equipment - similar to those used by U-S military intelligence flights over Bosnia and Kosovo. The plane crashed in the mountains of southern Colombia Friday near the Ecuadoran border. It was carrying five American servicemen and two Colombian military officers. When the plane first disappeared Friday, Colombian and U-S officials said the aircraft was on an anti-drug mission. This was reiterated on Tuesday when the head of the anti-narcotics division of Colombia's police force, Colonel Leonardo Gallardo, categorically dismissed the newspaper report. /// Gallardo Spanish Act /// He said the task being carried out by the aircraft was in support of anti-narcotics efforts. The U-S drug policy director, Barry McCaffrey - who is on a visit to Colombia - also rejected the report but acknowledged the De Havilland plane is a reconaissance aircraft. /// McCaffrey Act /// These are reconaissance aircraft. There are two-thousand odd flights a year throughout the region. The actual techniques are classified but they're extremely effective at what they do. /// End Act /// The U-S drug official added that bad weather continues to hamper efforts by rescue workers to reach the plane's crash site. /// Rest Opt /// Mr. McCaffrey spoke to reporters while visiting a Colombian military base some 200 kilometers southeast of Bogota where a special anti-narcotics batallion is being trained by U-S adivsors. The U- S official watched batallion members carry out several training exercises, including a special course to teach soldiers to respect the rights of their captives. The Colombian military has been accused of committing human rights abuses in its struggle against leftist guerrillas. (Signed) NEB/WFR/TVM/PT 27-Jul-1999 21:51 PM LOC (28-Jul-1999 0151 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .