Trial of IRA Members Adjourned in Colombia

BOGOTA, Colombia —  A judge adjourned until February the trial of three suspected members of the Irish Republican Army charged with training Marxist rebels to build bombs, after key prosecution witnesses failed to appear in court Tuesday.

Judge Jairo Acosta ordered the trial, which began Monday, to resume Feb. 5, giving two rebel defectors another chance to testify that they witnessed the Irishmen training the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC. Niall Connolly, James Monaghan and Martin McCauley could face 20 years in prison if found guilty of collaboration with the rebels. The three were arrested at a Bogota airport last year, trying to leave the country with false passports.

The men admitted to visiting a FARC-controlled area but said they were observing peace talks, which have since collapsed, and wildlife.