Colombia congressman's home targeted with explosive

The home of Colombian congressman Ariel Rodriguez was targeted with an explosive device in Cucuta shortly before midnight on Wednesday, police said.

Police said the device was thrown into the backyard of Rodriguez, a Liberal Party congressman and supporter of president-elect Abelardo de la Espriella. There were no casualties, police said.

Police did not say what type of explosive was used or whether it detonated. No suspects have been identified.

The attack came before de la Espriella, a hard-right politician, is due to take office on August 7. He has pledged to crack down on armed groups as Colombia faces its highest levels of violence in a decade.

De la Espriella won June's presidential runoff by less than a percentage point over leftist Senator Ivan Cepeda. The campaign was marred by car bombs, drone attacks and the assassination of leading presidential candidate Miguel Uribe.