Colombian rebels warn of pre-election curfew

Rebel groups in Colombia have stepped up their campaign to disrupt the forthcoming Presidential elections.

The two main left-wing rebel groups -- the National Liberation Army ELN and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia FARC -- have declared curfews in the north-east of the country and are threatening to attack any vehicle on the road.

Traffic has been brought to a standstill.

People have been stockpiling food supplies in anticipation of shortages in Antioquia and Santander.

The BBC South America correspondent says the government has accepted that people take such threats seriously and has put six-thousand extra soldiers on the streets.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service