5 Colombian police dead in suspected rebel ambush

BOGOTA – Five police officers were killed in rural northern Colombia on Saturday when suspected leftist rebels detonated an explosive device as their patrol passed by, local authorities said.

The ambush took place in the town of Gonzalez in Cesar department as the police patrol was carrying out routine operations in the area, according to officials in the local government and the police department.

Both the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) – Latin America’s oldest rebel movement, with 8,000 fighters – and the National Liberation Army (ELN), with 2,500 members, are active in the area.

Defense Minister Rodrigo Rivera has said the two groups are increasingly using guerrilla tactics such as surprise attacks in their battle with security forces.