Colombian officials say security forces have rescued 14 of 22 people abducted by suspected leftist rebels in southeastern Guaviare state.
Guaviare state police chief Colonel Angel Franco says the hostages were kidnapped Monday when the rebels set up a road block in a remote area near Guacamayas, about 280 kilometers southeast of the capital, Bogata.
Colonel Franco says the 14 hostages were freed several hours later after a jungle confrontation with security forces. Police officials believe the kidnapping was the work of the leftist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).
Leftist rebels and right-wing paramilitary groups have been mired in a decades-long civil conflict with the government that kills thousands of people each year.
Some information for this report provided by AP and AFP.