Off the wire
• FARC attack on oil pipeline pollutes water supply in Colombia  • Roundup: MERS infections in S.Korea abate on lingering concerns  • "Cuban Five" to visit Africa  • 2nd Ld-Writethru-China Focus: Chinese mainland removes entry permit requirements for Taiwan residents  • 1st LD: Chinese shares close lower Thursday  • DPRK hit by worst drought in 100 years  • 1st LD: S. Korea approves new PM, ending 2-month vacancy  • Indian Finance Minister leaves for 10-day tour of U.S.  • Urgent: Denmark kicks off parliamentary elections  • Indian PM greets people of Seychelles on National Day  
You are here: 　 Home

4 Colombian soldiers die in FARC landmine field

Xinhua, June 18, 2015 Adjust font size:

Four Colombian soldiers were killed and another five injured in the country's southwestern Caqueta department after falling into a landmine area in combating rebels of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

"Troops of the Mobile Brigade No. 22 of Caguan Command were conducting search operations and territorial control, and were affected after the activation of an area with explosives placed by rebels of the FARC's 63rd Front of the Southern Bloc," an army statement released on Wednesday said.

According to the report, the incident occurred in a rural area of Cartagena del Chaira municipality (Caqueta), where FARC insurgents engaged with the soldiers after they entered the landmine field.

Despite the escalation of the conflict in recent weeks, the Colombian government and the FARC, the largest guerilla force in Colombia, continue to seek a final peace agreement at the negotiating table in Havana, Cuba,to end 50 years of armed conflict. Endi