The peace process in Colombia has been thrown into doubt with the murders if 15 Government troops by Marxist FARC rebels.  The FARC is currently in negotiations to come in from the jungles and rejoin the political process.

More than 70 FARC rebels attacked a group of 26 soldiers guarding an oil pipeline in the Arauca region; 15 government troops and six rebels were killed in the battle.  12 rebels are under arrest.

In a separate incident in southwest Colombia, clashes killed four soldiers and several FARC fighters.

The peace talks in Havana were seen as the best chance in nearly five decades to end Colombia’s civil war.

Meanwhile, the US is calling on FARC to release an ex-Marine who the US says was in Colombia strictly as a tourist, but whom the FARC suggests is a mercenary.  The rebels had earlier offered to release him as a good will gesture for the peace talks.