Peaceful protest in Bogota against police violence

Demonstrators in Colombia's capital Bogota took the streets again on Wednesday in what was a peaceful protest after days of deadly confrontations with police that had left dozens dead and more reported missing.

Protests across Colombia demanded that President Iván Duque withdraw an initiative to raise taxes to counteract the economic downturn after a year of coronavirus restrictions.

According to the government human rights ombudsman office, 24 people died during the confrontations, 17 of them in the southern department of Cauca.

At least 85 people had also been reported missing, and 306 civilians were injured during the protests. Police reported 540 injured officers.

Duque withdrew the initiative during the weekend, but the police repression and a deadly toll motivated new demonstrations.

On Tuesday, the Colombian army deployed tanks at the north entrance of Bogota.