Colombia has suspended peace talks with the National Liberation Army, or ELN, for second time in less than a year after blaming the rebel group for violence that has been affecting a northeastern region of the country in recent days.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Friday issued a decree that gives him emergency powers to respond to an outbreak of deadly violence between rival armed groups in the north-eastern Catatumbo region.

Colombia called on neighboring Venezuela on Thursday to help tackle armed guerrillas blamed for a week of bloody violence that has displaced 40,000 people in the lawless border region. "I've been in contact with the current Venezuelan government,