Amid concern that Colombia's peace process could be jeopardized by ongoing assassinations of social leaders, the Defense Ministry said the slayings are "not systematic."
Colombian authorities are blaming ELN guerillas in a wave of attacks on security forces around the country, again jeopardizing the planned opening of peace talks.
Colombia's Congress approved an amnesty law as part of the peace process, protecting guerilla fighters from prosecution over most crimes related to the conflict.
Despite advances for the peace process with the FARC rebels, the wave of assassinations of social leaders across Colombia by presumed paramilitary hitmen is unabated.
Colombia's Constitutional Court approved the government's plan for "fast track" authority to expedite congressional approval of terms for a peace deal with the FARC rebels.
A federal judge in Florida ruled that victims of illegal right-wing paramilitary networks in Colombia may sue banana giant Chiquita Brands under US jurisdiction.
The United Nations warned that Colombia's peace process faces "major challenges," urging the government and FARC rebels to "act swiftly" to demobilize and disarm the guerillas.
With Colombia's Congress voting to approve the revised peace accord with the FARC rebels, the country is on a countdown to the full demobilization of the guerilla army.
President Juan Manuel Santos announced that he has developed a plan of action to address the ongoing wave of assassinations of social leaders across Colombia.
For a second time in the space of a month, planned peace talks between the Colombian government and ELN guerillas in Quito broke down on the very eve of convening.
President Juan Manuel Santos and FARC leader Rodrigo Londono AKA "Timochenko" signed a new peace agreement to replace the one rejected by voters in a national plebiscite.
Representatives of Colombia's government and the rebel National Liberation Army met in Caracas to announce that they are opening formal peace negotiations.
