Colombia’s defence minister has denied accusations that army troops massacred eight peasants, including four children, in a remote village in northwest Colombia a week ago, saying no soldiers were in the area at the time.

Five backpackers have begun their final trek to freedom in the jungle-covered mountains of northern Colombia after three months in captivity, a member of a humanitarian mission said today.

THE commander of Colombia’s armed forces became the latest senior official to quit his post, abruptly turning in his resignation and ending a 42-year military career.