The government confirmed 17 civilian deaths as directly connected with protests, while human rights groups claim dozens more civilians have been killed by security forces.

They have taken the brunt of the tear gas and gunshots from security forces, and dozens have paid for it with their lives.

Colombia's government and the country's largest rebel movement signed a historic peace accord Monday, ending a half-century of combat that caused more than 220,000 deaths and made 8 million homeless.