Rural Colombians holding hostage dozens of soldiers

Bogot : Rural Colombians thought to be acting at the behest of a guerrilla group have been holding about 60 soldiers hostage since the weekend, offici...

Bogotá: Rural Colombians thought to be acting at the behest of a guerrilla group have been holding about 60 soldiers hostage since the weekend, officials in the South American country said Monday.

The soldiers were taken on Saturday along with about 40 others who have since managed to get away, an army source told AFP.

The 60 men are being held by about 650 residents in rural south Colombia, mayor Willy Rodriguez, of the town nearby San Jose del Guaviare, told Caracol Radio.

The townspeople are thought to be under the influence of dissidents of the FARC guerrilla movement.

Defense Minister Ivan Velasquez has accused the Jorge Suarez Briceno rebel group as being behind what he described as a "kidnapping."