Conflicting reports on victims of Colombia violence

There're conflicting reports about how many people died in death-squad attacks in northwest Colombia last week.

The Colombian Red Cross says at least six bodies have been found near the town of Pavarando but the government has issued a statement saying that the number of dead was undetermined.

The Defence Ministry statement added that civilians might be among the dead after three days of fighting between a guerilla group FARC and the paramilitaries.

Correspondents say the attacks came a week after the head of Colombia's most feared paramilitary gang, Carlos Castano, said that he would begin what he called a final onslaught against guerrillas in the region.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service