Bogota - Marxist rebels waged fresh waves of attacks yesterday in a nation-wide offensive that prompted the government to clamp a dusk-to-dawn curfew on one-third of Colombia, including towns on the outskirts of Bogota.
The army claimed to have killed up to 100 guerrillas as the rebels bombed towns with missiles made from gas cylinders, attacked military barracks with home-made tanks built from tractors and blew up bridges and energy infrastructure.
At least six civilians and just seven policemen were also reported to have died in the attacks that came 10 days before the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) were due to restart peace talks with the government.
There was no independent confirmation of the death toll. Both sides routinely minimise their own casualties in a war that has claimed more than 35,000 lives in 10 years.