Authorities from the central department of Antioquia said that the
homicide rate went up by 14 percent in the first five months of 2009,
Caracol Radio reported Tuesday.
The Antioquian government said that while in the first five months of 2008 there were 882 murders, there were over a 1,000 murders in the same period in 2009.
The areas most affected were Medellin, Magdalena
and Bajo Cauca.
According to authorities the increase in the murder rate is due to conflict between rival gangs of drug
traffickers, who are fighting over territory and for control of the business.
The administration emphasized taht there are 40 municipalities within Antioquia that have not reported a single homicide this year to date.
