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BOGOTA: Eight police officers were killed in clashes with leftist rebels Friday in southwestern Colombia near the border with Ecuador, authorities said revising down an earlier death toll of 10.
Police and Defence Ministry officials said four police officers were also wounded and two civilians were missing in the shootout with members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) who tried to take over San Miguel town in Putumayo province.
Earlier, San Miguel Mayor Roberto Benavides said 10 police had been killed, while Orlando Paez, a top national police official, reported two guerrillas killed in the shootout.
Ombudsman Volmar Perez said the guerrillas fled San Miguel after the firefight and placed landmines during their retreat.
In Bogota, Defence Minister Rodrigo Rivera said he "communicated with Ecuador's Security Minister Miguel Carvajal, who agreed to immediately activate the cross-border binational commission, to conduct a joint investigation into the facts."
Carvajal, speaking to reporters in Quito, strongly denied the attack had been launched from the Ecuadoran side of the border, insisting the national security forces have "full territorial control."
Colombia's rebel groups have launched a string of deadly attacks in recent weeks following the inauguration of President Juan Manuel Santos, a former defence minister who has promised to maintain pressure on the insurgents.
The air force said Friday it had sent combat and reconnaissance planes to the area, while two medical helicopters were dispatched to pick up wounded police.
The FARC, Colombia's oldest rebel group, and the smaller National Liberation Army, or ELN, have staged recent attacks particularly in southern areas, leaving more than 30 security forces and around 20 insurgents dead, according to officials.
Guerrilla violence often rises during government transitions in Colombia.
Santos has rejected a rebel offer of peace talks, calling for them to first free hostages and stop recruiting minors.
-AFP/wk
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