BOGOTÁ, April 26 -- A highway bomb attack in a restive region of southwestern Colombia killed 14 people and injured at least 38 on Saturday, the latest spate of violence ahead of next month's presidential election.

Authorities blamed the attack in the Cauca department - a conflict-ridden, coca-growing region - on dissidents of the now-disbanded FARC guerrilla army, who have been sowing violence across the country.

"Those who carried out this attack... are terrorists, fascists and drug traffickers," President Gustavo Petro said on X.

"I want our very best soldiers to confront them," he added.

The leftist leader blamed the bombing on Ivan Mordisco, the South American country's most-wanted criminal, whom he has compared to late coca...