Colombia bomb kills two

A bomb explosion aimed at a former Colombian interior minister killed at least two people in a rare attack on the capital, Bogata.

Former minister Fernando Londono was hut in the attack, but was described as being out of danger by the country's President Juan Manuel Santos.

“We don't know what's behind it,” said Santos. “But rest assured that the government isn't going to be knocked off track by terrorist acts.”

Some 31 people were reported to have needed hospital treatment after the attack, which killed Londono's driver and a police bodyguard. It took place in a shortly before midday in a busy part of the city.

Bogota Mayor Gustavo Petro told journalists that a passer-by had attached an explosive to a door of 68-year-old Londono's armored SUV, before detonating it remotely. Petro told reporters that the attacker had walked away "in disguise," wearing a black wig.

Avowed opponent of rebels

Londono, and archconservative was interior and justice minister between 2002 and 2003 under former President Alvaro Uribe. He currently hosts a daily radio show and is strongly opposed to the opening of a peace process with the country's main leftist rebel group, the FARC.

He has described the group as "terrorists" and "murderers" and has been critical of Santos for allegedly being too soft on the rebels.

The last major bombing in Bogata was in 2003, when the FARC killed 36 people in a bomb attack on the exclusive El Nogal social club.

rc/mz (AP, AFP, dpa)