Bogota  - At least eight leftist rebels and four Colombian soldiers were killed Monday in the conflict-torn South American country.

The eight members of the Marxist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) were shot in battles in the northern and southern parts of the country, a military spokesman said.

The four soldiers were killed in a minefield set by rebels in Cauca province in the country's south-west. They were involved in an operation targeting drug smugglers. (dpa)