57 Colombian soldiers have been kidnapped by guerrillas in the south-west of the country.

The incident took place during a military operation in El Tambo, where a first group of soldiers was captured by civilians and a second group was kidnapped by about 200 people. General Federico Alberto Mejia called the action a kidnapping, underlining the guerrillas' influence over the local population. The Colombian army is facing difficulties in penetrating the area, crucial for cocaine production, amid a security crisis heightened by the withdrawal of some guerrilla leaders from peace talks.