At least 80 people are dead and more than 18,000 have been forced to flee their homes in Colombia, officials say, amid fierce clashes between two rival armed groups on the border with Venezuela.

Terrified residents carrying backpacks and belongings on overladen motorcycles, boats, or crammed onto the backs of open trucks, fled the region over the weekend.

At least 39 people have been killed in violence involving leftwing guerrillas near Colombia's restive border with Venezuela, authorities said Friday, prompting the government to suspend high-stakes peace talks with the group.

President Gustavo Petro paused already-spluttering peace negotiations with the National Liberation Army (ELN), accusing them of “war crimes” during a fresh wave of unrest

At least 30 people have been killed in violence between rival leftwing groups near Colombia's restive border with Venezuela, authorities said Friday, prompting the government to suspend high-stakes peace talks with one guerilla group.

The unusually deadly violence delivers a devastating blow to the “total peace” program of the country’s first leftist president, Gustavo Petro.

More than 8,000 civilians fled the violence, with many seeking shelter in government facilities or hiding in the mountains.

This was the country's deadliest wave of violence since the peace accords set by President Gustavo Petro in 2016

Colombia vowed "war" against left-wing guerrillas Monday, as security forces rushed to contain a wave of violence that has killed more than 100 people and threatens to derail the country's