There Will Be No Impunity for Colombia Police Abuses, Top Cop Says 

BOGOTA - Members of Colombia's national police force who are responsible for abuses or acts of violence amid ongoing protests will be punished to the full extent of the law, the head of the force said.

Demonstrators and human rights groups have repeatedly accused police officers of killing civilians, excessive use of force, sexual abuse and the use of firearms, both during current protests and previous ones. Accusations of possible abuse of a minor in the city of Popayan have sparked violent protests there this week. "They must respond before the authorities and whoever has knowingly committed a crime; the response will have the full weight of the law," national police director General Jorge Luis Vargas told Reuters in an interview.