The death toll from rebel-related violence in a key drug trafficking region of Colombia has doubled to 60, the government's human rights ombudsman said on Saturday.

The Colombian government's human rights ombudsman said on Saturday the death toll from violence in the Catatumbo region had risen to 60, up from a previous tally of 30 from attacks by the leftist National Liberation Army (ELN).

The death toll from attacks by ELN rebels in Colombia has risen to 60 in the country's northeast Catatumbo region near the border with Venezuela, the Ombudsman's Office reported Saturday.