Colombia declares state of emergency amid escalating violence

Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Monday declared a state of internal commotion in the northeastern Catatumbo region.

Petro made the declaration citing the humanitarian crisis after the recent attacks by the National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrillas that left at least 100 dead and 11,000 displaced.

Condemning the attacks by the guerrillas, he said that the ELN became an armed group more permeated by drug trafficking and paramilitary culture.