Thousands flee Colombia fighting

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.

The lives of 4,000 more people who have refused to leave are at risk as the crossfire between the two groups bears down on them, UN officials said after touring the region of Bojaya, some 235 miles north west of the capital Bogota.