Guerrillas cause big blackout in NE Colombia

BOGOTA - A power tower was blasted Tuesday by guerrillas, triggering a big blackout in the areas along the Colombian border with Venezuela.

The attack took place in Arauquita of Colombia's northeastern Arauca province at 6:17 pm local time (2317 GMT), where the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the National Liberation Army (ELN) are active, the state electricity company Enelar's spokesman said.

Enelar was negotiating with Venezuela to purchase 4 megawatts of electricity in order to supply the province while repairing the tower.

Arauca province has been one of the centers suffering both power and oil infrastructure attacks by guerrilla groups this month.