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.

At least 80 people were killed in northeast Colombia following failed attempts at peace talks with the National Liberation Army, a Colombian official said.

Colombia has suspended peace talks with the National Liberation Army, or ELN, for a second time in less than a year after blaming the rebel group for violence that has been affecting the northeastern

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.

Twenty others were injured in the violence that has forced thousands to flee as Colombia's army scrambled to evacuate people on Sunday, according to the governor of North Santander, where many of the killings took place.