Unrest spiraling in Bogota, transport crippled

Bogota mayor Enrique Penalosa declared a nighttime curfew in three southern parts of the Colombian capital amid spiraling violence that mirrors the unrest gripping Chile since mid-October.

Vandalism and looting first erupted yesterday following peaceful marches and broke out again this afternoon.

Since yesterday more than half of 138 stations of the Transmilenio bus system have been damaged or destroyed, in an eerie parallel to the attacks on Santiago's metro system last month. Throngs of city residents are walking hours to reach home.

Earlier the mayor warned of "political interests" bent on fomenting violence that would "turn Colombia into Venezuela", and urged Colombians to unite.

Some flights at El Dorado International Airport have been delayed or canceled, but the facility remains open. The outskirts of the airport have also witnessed clashes between demonstrators and police.

Anti-riot police and military forces are deployed across Bogota. The three neighborhoods subject to curfew tonight were Bosa, Kennedy and Ciudad Bolivar. Alcohol sales were temporarily banned. The southwest city of Cali was also mired in unrest, including looting of private homes.

By Patricia Garip