Ecuador broke off diplomatic relations on Monday with Colombia due to the diplomatic conflict between the two nations, Ecuadorian president's office said in a statement.

"The government of Ecuador had decided to break diplomatic relations with Colombia, starting today," the statement said.

The break-off comes 48 hours after Colombian police and military officials killed rebels from that nation's largest rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), at a camp in Ecuador 3 km from the border. Ecuador says the Colombian military aircraft trespassed at least 10 km from the border.

The Colombians had not asked permission from the Ecuadorian government but Colombian officials later said that they were acting in "legitimate self-defense." The raid killed 21 FARC fighters, including Edgar Devia, better known by his alias Raul Reyes, the FARC's number two official and the organization's official spokesman.

(Xinhua News Agency March 4, 2008)