Colombia's largest leftist guerrilla group, the FARC, is responding to a government offensive to retake the former rebel enclave by sabotaging power and telephone lines, bridges and other infrastructure in Colombia.

Parts of Colombia are without electricity, following guerrilla actions to down power lines and generating stations. Authorities said Monday, five departments -- mainly in southern and western Colombia -- are affected. Bridges and telephone lines also have been destroyed.

The FARC stepped up its attacks against Colombia's infrastructure after government troops moved in, late last week, to retake its enclave in southern Colombia -- set up in 1998 as a rebel condition for peace talks. Last Wednesday, President Andres Pastrana dissolved the demilitarized zone and suspended the talks after FARC guerrillas hijacked a plane and kidnapped a senator on board.

Thousands of Colombian troops continue to move through the former FARC zone and have reoccupied all the main towns in region, which is the size of Switzerland. So far, the guerrillas have stayed out of sight and avoided engagements.

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