Hundreds Displaced As
Colombian Forces Clash
With FARC Rebels
Around 300 Colombian
peasants from the
department of Antioquia
fled their hometown
Thursday following
clashes between
government forces and
FARC (Revolutionary
Armed Forces of
Colombia) guerillas,
government officials
said Thursday.
Victor Perlaza, mayor of
the municipality of
Zaragoza, said the
affected people are from
nearby Palotal, where
the clashes took place.
"There have been armed
conflicts between the
Army Brigade 14 and a
group that apparently
belongs to the FARC,
which operates in the
mountains northeast of
Antioquia," said Perlaza.
Some 82 peasant families
fled to Zaragoza and are
being sheltered in the
municipal coliseum.
The mayor voiced his
concern for the
displaced people who are
afraid to return to
their homes and are in
need of humanitarian
help.
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