The United States and Colombia have signed a military training agreement which is designed to help the Colombian armed forces modernise and be better able to combat drug-traffickers.

The US Congress recently approved a package of more than two-hundred-and-eighty million dollars in anti-drugs money for Colombia - more than doubling the previous year's aid.

The Clinton administration insists the money will be used exclusively against the drugs trade, but correspondents say there are fears that Washington will be dragged into supporting the Colombian government against left-wing rebels.

The latest guerrilla attacks are reported to have left at least eleven people dead in the north-east of the country.

The raids came as President Andres Pastrana tried to break a deadlock in planned peace talks.