One of the top-ranking women leaders of Colombia's Marxist FARC guerrillas, Nelly Avila Moreno alias Karina, has turned herself in after decades of eluding capture, officials said Monday.

Authorities say Karina, who led the 47th Front until her surrender Sunday in the town of Argelia, was considered one of the most violent female leaders of Latin America's longest-running insurrection.

Avila, who is in her 40s, was allegedly behind four massacres carried out between 1994 and 1996 in the northwest Uraba region, as well as dozens of kidnappings and attacks on public officials.

She also may have been responsible for or involved in the 1983 murder of the father of current President Alvaro Uribe, officials said.

"She was known for her cruelty and daring, and for the massacres and beatings she ordered over 20 years with the guerrillas. So she was a very important military target," Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos said.

"She had become a legend, with the guts to carry out any action. Such people rise up rapidly through guerrilla ranks, and she had reached one of the most important posts of any woman in the organization," he added.

President Uribe had urged Karina to surrender in exchange for security guarantees, and had made her capture one of his top priorities in the government's fight four decade fight against the FARC.

Santos said Avila would benefit from the country's formal demobilization program, adding she had come close to being captured several times during military operations during which she apparently lost an eye.

"We began to believe that she had nine lives like a cat," said Santos, adding Avila had finally surrendered because "she was starving as she was surrounded and without food."

She may have been linked to or behind the killing of Uribe's father, the defense minister said, though he said he did not have evidence to prove it.

"That is a story that has been going around for a long time, and she may have done it or been one of those who did it, but I cannot say this far along whether it is the case. Let's see what she says," Santos added.

The FARC has denied involvement in the killing and arguing that the president's father was a "known drug trafficker."

Avila's capture is another blow to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) which have also seen two top leaders killed by the Colombian military since early March.

Avila surrendered to Colombian intelligence service with her teenage daughter acting as a "guarantor," officials said.

She was said to be behind an attack in Jurado in December 1999, in which 25 soldiers died and 12 were taken captive.

Then in December 2005 she allegedly led an attack on police in northwestern San Marino which left eight policemen dead and 30 captive. They were later later released, authorities said.