Threats from armed group bring Colombia's Santa Marta to standstill

Colombia's Santa Marta city is at a standstill Illegal armed group threatens local businesses, transportation 13 members of illegal group killed on Monday BOGOTA, Sept 23 (Reuters) — The Colombian city of Santa Marta, a hot spot for tourists, came to a standstill on Wednesday following threats by an illegal armed group against local businesses and transportation in retaliation for Monday's killing of one of its leaders. The paralysis of public transportation and businesses in Santa Marta, a city of about 580,000 along the country's lush Caribbean coast, continued into its second day despite President Abelardo De La Espriella’s order to militarize the city by deploying 1,100 people from the Armed Forces and the National Police. The Conquering Self-Defense Forces of the Sierra Nevada (ACSN), an illegal armed group with over 800 members, ordered the closure of businesses and transportation in retaliation for the death on Monday of 13 of its members, including one of its leaders, during an operation by the Armed Forces. Members of the illegal armed group fired shots at businesses on Tuesday and set public transportation and cargo vehicles on fire, police reported. The US Embassy in Bog