US bars former Colombia army commander, cites extrajudicial killings

FILE PHOTO: Colombia's army commander General Mario Montoya (L) gestures after announcing his resignation to the media in Bogota, November 4, 2008. REUTERS/Jose Miguel Gomez/File Photo

(Reuters) - The United States on Friday barred former Colombian army commander General Mario Montoya from entering the U.S., citing what it called credible evidence he had been involved in the extrajudicial killings of civilians.

Montoya has been placed on a designated list of people subject to U.S. sanctions "due to his involvement in gross violations of human rights," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.