25 miners feared missing or slain in violence-hit southeastern Venezuela

Up to 25 gold miners are feared to be missing or slain after violence erupted in gold mines in the southeastern state of Bolivar on March 4, Venezuela's Ombudsman Tarek William Saab said on Sunday.

Families and witnesses said the missing miners were killed by unidentified gangsters.

Authorities have already identified some of the people thought to be responsible for the crime, said the ombudsman during an interview with "Jose Vicente Hoy," a local television program.

Investigators have approached 17 families and managed to draw up "physical descriptions" of the victims, but the exact number of victims is yet to be determined, said Saab.

The high commission tasked to clarify facts in Tumeremo, capital of the municipality General Antonio Domingo Sifontes of Bolivar state, has linked the case of alleged missing miners to people with Colombian nationalities.

Saab suggested gang-related crimes, saying the gang members even told the ringleader "mission complete" on telephone, according to witnesses.

Venezuela's Ministry for Foreign Relations, Justice and Peace previously identified 44-year-old Ecuadorian citizen Jamilton Andres Ulloa Suarez as the mastermind of the supposed crime. Ulloa Suarez is currently wanted by local authorities.

Venezuela is rich in deposits of minerals such as gold, copper and diamonds. Violent conflicts involving gold miners are common. Local newspaper Correo del Caroni said that in 2015, it documented at least 17 violent conflicts, with at least 28 people killed at mining sites. Endi