At least 10 people were killed and 25 others injured when a powerful car bomb exploded early today in a crowded street in southeastern Colombia, police said.
No armed group fighting in the country's 38-year old war has claimed responsibility for the bomb, which exploded around 1.10 a.m. local time (6.10 a.m. Irish time) in a popular area packed with restaurants and nightclubs in the city of Villavicencio, some 64 kilometres southeast of the capital Bogota.
"At the moment we have 10 people killed and 25 injured. This is indiscriminate terrorism," police colonel Mr Jorge Alirio Baron said.
Mr Baron said the street was crowded with people enjoying a night out when the explosion occurred. The blast damaged several buildings, including three radio stations and shops.
Colombia is embroiled in a war pitting leftist rebels against state security forces and right-wing paramilitary outlaws. Efforts to end a war that claims the lives of 3,500 people every year collapsed last February after President Andres Pastrana broke off peace talks with FARC rebels.
Villavicencio, a cattle and agriculture city of 350,000 people in Meta province, has suffered blackouts and bomb attacks against roads and bridges by rebels. In January, thousands of people took to the streets of Villavicencio beating pots and pans to demand an end to violence.
Villavicencio is playing host this weekend for the tennis Davis Cup tournament between Colombia and Uruguay.
In January, a bicycle bomb blamed on FARC leftist rebels in Bogota killed six people and injured 14 others.
Colombians go to the polls in May 26th to pick a new president. Independent candidate Mr Alvaro Uribe, who is running a campaign on promises to crack down on rebels and restore law and order, is the front-runner, according to opinion polls.