soldier walks through a toll plaza along the Pan-American Highway damaged in a car bomb explosion that the army blamed on FARC dissident groups in Santander de Quilichao, Colombia, S
A CAR bomb exploded in south-western Colombia on Saturday, a day after conservative politician Abelardo de la Espriella was sworn in as the country’s new president.
The army blamed two dissident groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) who rejected the peace agreement signed with the government a decade ago.
The blast at a toll plaza on the Pan-American Highway injured two security guards, with one telling authorities the explosion came from a vehicle abandoned by someone who fled on a motorcycle.
The affected road connects Cauca and Valle del Cauca, whose capital Cali hosted Friday’s inauguration.
During his speech, Mr de la Espriella warned illegal groups they must “submit to the rule of law or confront the security forces.”
The right-wing leader has said he would end the “total peace” approach of his predecessor, former president Gustavo Petro, aimed at fostering dialogue with armed groups.
Mr de la Espriella has pledged to return Colombia to a more militarised approach, and received support from US President Donald Trump, whose administration has promised $1 billion (£743 million) in security aid.
