Colombia to deploy army in protests hotspot, Cali

President of Colombia Ivan Duque announced Friday the government will immediately deploy the army to assist the police in Cali, where dozens of people were killed in anti-government protests during the last month.

Three people were killed on Friday as Duque said the decision was made to stop "vandalism, unrest" and to protect the "people's peace," as well as to protect "strategic assets" in Colombia.

President Duque spoke from Cali, capital of Valle del Cauca department, where police and the army deployed 7,000 troopers.

According to Duque, vandalism is also being planned from unnamed "organized groups,"

The protesters, who were originally rallying against government reforms, have complained of police brutality and are demanding freedom to demonstrate.

In some parts of Colombia, protesters organized roadblocks that have led to fuel shortages, increased the price of food, and forced some factories to shut.

At least 40 people have been killed during the protests, dozens more have been reported as disappeared, and thousands of civilians and police were wounded in the last month.

Human rights groups such as Human Rights Watch say that the death toll since the protests began has risen to 55 and that in at least 15 cases, the alleged aggressors were police.