At least 80 people are dead and more than 18,000 have been forced to flee their homes in Colombia, officials say, amid fierce clashes between two rival armed groups on the border with Venezuela.

More than 80 people were killed in the country’s northeast over the weekend following the government’s failed attempts to hold peace talks with the National Liberation Army, a Colombian official said.

More than 8,000 civilians fled the violence, with many seeking shelter in government facilities or hiding in the mountains.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro says he will declare an emergency over the guerrilla attacks in the northeast that have killed dozens of people and forced thousands to flee

Former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe (2002-2010) called on Saturday for an international intervention in Venezuela, endorsed by the United Nations, to remove Chavista leader Nicolás Maduro from power after his inauguration on Friday.

Colombia vowed “war” against left-wing guerrillas today, declaring a state of emergency and deploying thousands of soldiers to contain a wave of violence that has killed more than 100 people and threatens to scupper the country’s fragile peace process.

Venezuela closed its borders and airspace to Colombia on Friday, the day President Nicolas Maduro is to be sworn in as the country's highest authority.

The criminal war in northeast Colombia has escalated, as intense fighting between two Colombian guerrilla groups erupted in the Catatumbo region, a key cocaine production hub and criminal hotspot along the Venezuelan border.

The temporary closure of Venezuelan airspace adds another layer of complexity to the already challenging regional aviation landscape, highlighting the uncertainty faced by both travelers and airlines.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro said Monday that he will declare a state of emergency over the guerrilla attacks in the northeast that have killed dozens of people and

Colombia's security forces on Monday struggled to contain a surge in left-wing guerrilla violence that has now killed more than 100 people in five days and threatens to derail the country's troubled peace process.