The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) of Colombia kidnapped six local candidates in the country's southeastern region of Vaupes, police said Tuesday.

The six candidates in the municipal elections of Caruru were kidnapped last Friday, according to the police.

The delayed elections were held Sunday amid tensions after being canceled last October for security reasons.

The 17,000-strong FARC is the oldest and largest guerrilla group in Colombia.

It currently holds at least 60 policemen, militaries, civilians,foreigners and politicians including former presidential candidateIngrid Betancourt.

Colombia has been locked in a four-decade civil war, the longest in Latin America, in which government forces, leftist guerrillas and far-right paramilitaries fight one another. The conflicts kill more than 3,000 people every year.

Source: Xinhua