Heavy fighting between leftist guerrillas and their right-wing paramilitary foes in north west Colombia has forced more than 2,000 mainly villagers from their homes, the UN said today.

A senior Roman Catholic Church leader met with imprisoned leaders of Colombia’s second-largest rebel group as part of stepped up efforts to secure the release of seven foreign hostages.

Mudslides caused by two days of heavy rains in north west Colombia killed three young girls, authorities said.