Colombian President Gustavo Petro said Monday that he will declare a state of emergency over the guerrilla attacks in the northeast that have killed dozens of people and forced thousands to flee their homes.

COLOMBIAN President Gustavo Petro said on Monday that he will declare a state of emergency over the guerilla attacks in the north-east that have killed dozens of people and forced thousands to flee their homes.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced on Friday the suspension of peace talks with the National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrilla group following a series of deadly attacks in the Catatumbo region, in the northeast of the country.

Colombia has suspended peace talks with the National Liberation Army, or ELN, for second time in less than a year after blaming the rebel group for violence that has been affecting a northeastern region of the country in recent days.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro suspended peace talks with the leftist National Liberation Army (ELN) on Friday, after accusing the group of committing a war crime in the Catatumbo region, in the country's Norte de Santander province.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro said Monday he will declare a state of emergency after guerilla attacks by the ELN in the northeast of the country killed at least 80 people and forced over 11,000 to flee.