Colombian attorney general investigates 22 generals for murder

Colombian Attorney-General Eduardo Montealegre says 22 generals are among those being investigated for the extra-judicial killings of civilians, commonly called "false positives".

Montealegre was speaking at the forum "Victims of false positives and including military criminal jurisdiction in the peace process" held on Sunday at the Historical Memory Centre in Bogota, Efe news agency reported.

"Here I want to clarify that the attorney general's office is carrying out investigations of 22 generals for false positives, and though the office has not yet made a decision to prosecute, this does not mean that the generals are not being investigated," Montealegre said in a speech.

"False positives" refer to the summary execution of civilians who, during the previous government, travelled to remote areas on false promises of employment from military personnel who then killed them.

The military then presented their victims as guerrillas killed in action.

According to Human Rights Watch, more than 3,500 extra-judicial executions were committed during the government of Alvaro Uribe (2002-2010).

The military committed the murders to boost the apparent number of rebels killed and in turn obtain benefits and perks from their commanders for a "job well done".

Montealegre added that senior officials are being investigated because in more than 10 percent of the 817 cases raised, evidence suggests culpability lies with them.