Six Colombian police were killed in an attack by cocaine-funded guerrillas yesterday, the latest in a series of battles over the past week in which 45 police, soldiers and rebels have died, the government said.
The attack took place in the southern province of Narino, which is key to the drug production and smuggling operations of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) and the National Liberation Army (ELN).
Authorities said fighters from both outlawed groups assaulted a police station near the town of Samaniego with guns and homemade missiles.
The Farc and ELN have been fighting the state since the 1960s in the name of socialist revolution and have increased military activity since President Juan Manuel Santos, a conservative US ally, took office last month.
"There is a small number of deranged terrorists who are determined to commit atrocities in a strategic attempt to halt the progress being made by our military and police," defence minister Rodrigo Rivera said.
Colombia's cities and roads have become much safer over the last eight years thanks to a US-backed crackdown on the Farc and ELN, which are branded terrorists by Washington and continue to struggle for control of some rural areas.
Reuters