Six killed in clashes with Colombian militias: Ecuador

An Ecuadoran army lieutenant and five members of an illegal armed Colombian group were killed in clashes Thursday in a border area between the two countries, an official said.

The unidentified armed group apparently opened fire on an Ecuadoran army patrol, killing Lieutenant Diego Maldonado, 28, an Ecuadoran military official said.

The incident occurred early Thursday in Puerto Mestanza, a village in the northeastern Ecuadoran province of Sucumbios, which borders Colombia's Putumayo department.

After the confrontation, which also resulted in the capture of two assailants and wounded a soldier, Ecuador's government urged Colombia to step up border security.

We "insist that Colombian government authorities strengthen their presence on the border," urged Ecuadoran Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino at a news conference alongside the defense minister and military commanders.

Leftist FARC guerrillas operate in the area, as do bands of former right wing paramilitary groups.