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Colombian fighting kills 15,
displaces 1,500
At least 15 people were
reportedly killed and 1,500
others displaced on Friday in
fighting in the southeastern
Narilo area of Colombia, which
borders Ecuador.
Authorities remained silent as
to whether this was a military
operation against guerrilla
fighters or a dispute between
paramilitary groups.
According to press reports, the
15 dead were members of the
Colombian Revolutionary Armed
Forces (FARC) and the National
Liberation Army (ELN), the two
largest guerrilla groups in the
country.
Governor of El Sande Alvaro
Garcia was quoted as saying that
hundreds of people had run away
from their homes because of the
clashes and took shelter in
Samaniego, Guachavez and
Ricaurte municipalities.
Garcia also appealed for help
from the International Committee
of the Red Cross.
President Alvaro Uribe maintains
strong military offensives
against drug trafficking and
guerrilla fighting in Colombia,
while holding talks with
paramilitary groups like the
FARC and the ELN.
Last year, the Colombian
government tried to negotiate
with the FARC a swap of 500
jailed FARC fighters for around
60 civilian hostages. But the
talks were called off amid
differences.
The United Nations has always
insisted that the FARC and the
ELN should release all hostages.
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