Attack kills six Colombia police

The attack was blamed on Farc rebels

Six police officers have been killed and three wounded after a guerrilla attack on a mountain base in southwest Colombia, officials say.

The men died in a hail of gunfire and pipe bombs which the authorities said was launched by leftist Farc rebels.

The Farc (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) has been fighting the government for more than four decades.

The base was on a strategic route across the Andes, which links up three Colombian departments.

"We regret that six policemen have died and three more have been wounded," said Angelino Garzon, governor of the Department of Valle where the attack took place.

"This attack by the Farc does not achieve anything," news agency Reuters quoted him as saying.

Last month the Farc said they were prepared to negotiate with the government if newly re-elected President Alvaro Uribe ended US-backed operations against them.

But Mr Uribe has repeatedly said he will not halt operations against rebels and narco-traffickers, or withdraw security forces from rebel-dominated territory.