Colombia's defense minister vowed Friday to defeat "desperate" armed groups after twin guerrilla attacks killed 19 people and deepened the country's worst security crisis in decades.Minister Pedro Sanchez huddled with top security officials in the tropical city of Cali,

At least 12 police officers died in the attack on a helicopter, authorities was transporting personnel to an area in Antioquia to eradicate coca leaf crops, the raw material for cocaine.

Deadly bomb and drone attacks in two different regions of Colombia were being linked to the government's war on narcotrafficking by former FARC rebels.