Colombian army welcomes rights report

The Colombian military has welcome a letter by an international human rights group accusing left-wing rebels of committing serious abuses against civilians in its campaign against the state.

The chief of the armed forces, General Fernando Tapias said the letter by Human Rights Watch, vindicates what the military have been saying for years about human rights violations by rebels of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, the FARC.

Correspondents say the Colombian government and armed forces have frequently accused human rights organizations of bias in reporting mainly on abuses committed by the military and right-wing paramilitary groups.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service