At least 37 persons have been killed in clashes and paramilitary violence in Colombia on Saturday, police and local media reported. In fighting in northern Colombia, 27 rebels and six government troops were killed, while 78 members of the rebel groups Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the National Liberation Army (ELN) were captured, according to local media. Also large weapons caches belonging to rebels were found after battles in the region of Montes de Maria, the reports said. Meanwhile, near the city of Barrancabermeja, four members of the same family were killed by rightwing paramilitaries, police said. Police said the killings were the result of a conflict between rival suitors over the same woman. The regional human rights representative Jorge Gomez disputed this scenario, saying the act was a sign that paramilitaries were not keeping to the government-agreed ceasefire.
