The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human rights (UNHCHR) condemned on Sunday last a series of "war crimes" committed by FARC and ELN, the two main rebels group in the north-east of Colombia.

A statement from the international organisation quoted planned murders, the recruitment of children of both sexes, the forced recruitment of adults and the forced displacement of hundreds of people in Areca, a region rich in oil deposits that has become vital because of it proximity to the Venezuelan border.

The International Commission stated that these events were the direct result of fighting between these FARC and ELN (National Liberation Army0.

UNCHHR stated that fighting between these two rebel forces is also affecting civilians who have suffered from "the deliberate murder of at least 20 persons, between March and august 2006".

Likewise, rebel groups are involved in the forced recruitment of children and adults, which are classified as " war crimes"; according to the report, these practices are forcing those living in remote areas to flee to avoid being registered.

Carlos Pinilla, Government Secretary in Arauca condemned the fact that some 100 families had to abandon their homes due to harassment by rebels, who apparently come to farms, houses and even to schools to force children to go away with them.

The conflict between these rebel forces operating in the area was announced in March when FARC released in a statement that they had been attacked by ELN and that they would retaliate.

In the same statement they had offered to respect "civilians and all those who would not attack them, which is why they were inviting all those living in that region not to get involved in actions that might follow."

What actually happened in that area proved to be the very opposite, and that is why the UNHCHR has warned " members of FARC and ELN that the crimes mentioned above constitute serious breaches of the law in relation to International Human Rights and War Crimes", it therefore asks them to respect humanitarian law.

UNHCHR also asked government authorities to look after victims of these violent attacks and to put into place " effective mechanisms to prevent further breaches of the law and to guarantee the security of the population".

FARC is the most powerful rebel force in Colombia and has been fighting for 42 years to take power. ELN is the second biggest group although currently it hopes to take part in peace talks with President Alvaro Uribe.