Mass break-out at Colombian jail

Suspected Marxist rebels have attacked a prison in Colombia with explosives and gunfire, allowing at least 20 inmates to escape.

At least six prisoners were shot dead by guards, and three were re-captured.

Hundreds of troops have been searching for the missing prisoners, some of whom are members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc).

The rebels have been behind several jail-breaks, as they are suffering a shortage of middle-ranking leaders.

The break-out happened at Picalena prison, 130km (80 miles) west of Bogota.

It started when rebels outside started shooting at the prison and setting off explosives to distract the guards, Interior Minister Sabas Pretelt said on Wednesday.

Smuggled explosives

The diversion allowed prisoners to move to the outer perimeter of the prison, where they blasted a hole in the wall using dynamite.

The government has announced an investigation into how the explosives were smuggled into the prison.

"The death of the prisoners that were going to escape is sad, but it's a clear message of the firmness in the management of Colombian prisons," Mr Pretelt said.

The 17,000-strong Farc - the country's largest rebel group - has been fighting to overthrow the government for 40 years. In recent years it has become best-known for carrying out thousands of kidnappings for ransom.

The government has been mounting an offensive against the rebels, backed by the US, and thousands of rebels are currently in prison across the country.