Colombians march against violence

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Thousands of Colombians have taken part in marches in the country's major cities to pay tribute to victims caught up in violence waged by paramilitaries.

"No more paramilitaries, no more massacres, no more impunity," read one of the banners carried through Bogota.

The main paramilitary group, the AUC, is accused of thousands of killings in its conflict with guerrilla forces.

The protests followed similar ones last month that saw thousands condemn Farc rebels for killings and kidnappings.

Unlike February's marches against the guerrillas, which had an almost festive atmosphere, Thursday's rallies were much more sombre, even angry, says the BBC's Jeremy McDermott in Medellin.

Demonstrators carried photos of their relatives, many of them the victims of right-wing paramilitary death squads.

Some of the protesters wore gags to criticise what they say is the complicity of the security forces and the lack of progress made by the justice system in finding and punishing those responsible for atrocities.

Influence

Colombia's paramilitaries, with their roots in vigilante groups set up by landowners for protection against rebels, have been accused of countless massacres.

Like other armed groups, they have also been heavily involved in drug-trafficking.

More than 30,000 paramilitaries have demobilised in recent years under a peace deal that offered reduced jail terms.

But analysts say paramilitaries still exert considerable influence.

Dozens of politicians, including allies of President Alvaro Uribe, have been jailed or are being investigated over dealings with paramilitary groups.

Thursday's rallies took place amid a diplomatic crisis which has seen the governments of Ecuador, Venezuela and Nicaragua cut ties with Colombia over a Colombian attack on a Farc rebel camp inside Ecuadorean territory.