Colombia charges 26 army, police officers

Colombia's state prosecutor's office has charged twenty-six army and police officers with organising massacres, disappearances and other alleged human rights abuses in collaboration with paramilitary groups.

The prosecutor's office said the alleged offences were committed in the northwestern department of Antioquia.

Two civilians -- a former local mayor and a council chairman -- were also charged.

Human rights groups frequently accuse the Colombian armed forces of collaborating with paramilitary groups in the long-running conflict with guerrillas. Members of the biggest rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, the FARC, have insisted that the government take more action against paramilitaries as a condition for resuming peace talks.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service