The flag of the United Nations flies from a pole in front of UN Headquarters in New York. (Photo by JOHN ISAAC/United Nations)
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) 鈥� The United Nations is removing four officials from its peacekeeping mission in Colombia following an uproar over a video showing observers dancing with leftist rebels they鈥檙e supposed to be monitoring.
Thursday鈥檚 UN statement promises 鈥渇ull impartiality鈥� in its efforts to verify compliance with a deal between the government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia aimed at bringing an end to decades of bloody fighting.
A video of observers wearing UN vests dancing with female guerrillas at a New Year鈥檚 party sparked an outcry from opponents of the peace deal. Both Colombia鈥檚 government and the UN have called their behavior inappropriate.
Hundreds of UN-sponsored observers are being deployed across the country to receive weapons turned over by the rebels. Most are from Latin America though the statement mentioned no nationalities.