Bogota, Feb 23 (IANS/EFE): At least six guerrillas were killed and three Colombian army soldiers wounded during an intense combat in the Norte de Santander province, military sources said.

The clashes occurred in a rural area of San Calixto municipality among Colombian army troops and members of the National Liberation Army (ELN), and the Popular Liberation Army (EPL), a commander of the 30th Army Brigade, Col. Marcos Pinto, told reporters.

The fighting began Saturday afternoon between the towns of Palmarito and La Cantina, through which passes the road connecting San Calixto with Ocaña, the most important city in the region.

Pinto said that the troops engaged the guerrillas and, according to local residents, more than six rebels, including one of their leaders, were killed.

The military commander added that the three soldiers were wounded by shrapnel from explosive devices detonated by the rebels, and they were taken to a hospital in Ocaña.

The EPL demobilised in 1991, but a portion of the group refused to lay down its arms and continued to operate in some regions of the country, Colombian authorities said, sometimes in conjunction with the ELN.