Colombian rebel kills 24 govt soldiers
The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) killed at least 24 government soldiers in an ambush in central-eastern Colombia, army sources said Tuesday.

According to the Colombian Army, the FARC ambushed troops of Mobile Brigade 12 in Vista Hermosa, Meta department. Several soldiers were also injured during the conflict in which an unconfirmed number of guerrillas were killed.

Since the beginning of this year, more than 600 government troops have been killed by the FARC or other illegal armed groups, according to government statistics.

The FARC, a major rebel group in the South American country, has 17,000 to 20,000 combatants.