AN ATTACK on a military base in eastern Colombia that left two soldiers dead has probably killed off peace talks with the National Liberation Army (ELN), President Gustavo Petro said on Tuesday night.

At a ceremony where he named a new judge to one of Colombia’s highest courts, Mr Petro said: “This is an attack that practically closes a peace process, with blood.”

He was speaking after the military blamed the ELN for the attack and said that, in addition to the two fatalities, at least 21 soldiers had been injured.