17 Colombian Troops Cleared in Children’s Deaths

BOGOTA, Colombia —  A military criminal tribunal has cleared 17 of the 31 Colombian soldiers linked to an army ambush of a school group in which six children were shot dead, authorities said Thursday.

“There is technical evidence to prove they did not fire their weapons and that they were in a place from which it was impossible to shoot at the children,” an armed forces spokesman said.

The 14 other soldiers remain under investigation.

Army troops apparently opened fire on a group of students on a field trip near the town of Pueblorrico on Aug. 15, after which witnesses said soldiers expressed shock that the victims were children. Troops later testified that they had seen only silhouettes before they fired.

In addition to the six children killed, five were injured. -- Reuters