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 forced thousands to flee their homes.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced on Friday the suspension of peace talks with the National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrilla group following a series of deadly attacks in the Catatumbo region, in the northeast of the country.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro suspended peace talks with the leftist National Liberation Army (ELN) on Friday, after accusing the group of committing a war crime in the Catatumbo region, in the country's Norte de Santander province.