Colombia destroys mass amounts of mines

BOGOTA, Oct. 25 (UPI) -- Colombia destroyed almost 6,800 of its landmines in a series of mass explosions as diplomats and others looked on, El Tiempo newspaper reported Monday.

The armed forces of the South American nation detonated the mines on Sunday in eight ceremonial explosions, an event attended by Colombian victims of landmines, President Alvaro Uribe and Queen Noor of Jordan, a staunch supporter of landmine eradication worldwide.

The number of Colombia's annual casualties from mines ranks it 4th in the world behind Chechnya, Afghanistan and Cambodia.

Thousands have been killed or maimed by mines in the country's 40-year civil war with left-wing rebel groups, who use mines as well.