Colombia store bombs kill woman

A series of bomb explosions in northern Colombia has left one woman dead and at least 20 people injured.

The explosions occurred in three department stores in the Caribbean port city of Barranquilla.

Police say they believe left-wing rebels hurled small bombs into the department stores, which were packed with Christmas shoppers.

So far no-one has admitted carrying out the attacks, which are suspected to be part of an extortion campaign.

However, left-wing rebel groups have carried out similar attacks in the past.

Police said that the early afternoon bomb attacks had killed a woman who was selling lottery tickets outside one of the stores.