Colombian army kills 16 armed illegal groups

Government troops killed at least 16 members of Colombia's illegal armed groups in separate clashes across the country, the military said yesterday.

The Army reported no casualties among its soldiers.

Six rebels from both of Colombia's leftist rebel groups, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, known as the Farc, and the National Liberation Army, or ELN, died during clashes in the northern states of Antioquia and Cesar, the Army said.

Special anti-kidnapping forces killed another three Farc guerrillas during a gunfight in oil-rich Casanare, in the northeast.

Another seven outlawed fighters, including members of Colombia's far-right paramilitary militias, were killed during operations in the southwest.