Colombian police kill notorious drug lord

The drug lord and leader of a new generation of paramilitary groups was one of the US' most wanted criminals.

Washington had offered $5m (£2.5m) for information leading to the capture of Mejia and his twin brother, Victor.

Colombia's Defence Minister, Juan Manuel Santos, said Mejia was killed during a shoot-out in the northern province of Antioquia.

"He was perhaps the most wanted of all the criminals in Colombia," said Mr Santos.

Two bodyguards were killed with the fugitive, who was wearing a US military uniform when police raided his ranch hide-out after an informant's tip-off, reports say.

If confirmed, Mejia's death will be a double victory for the Colombian government, says the BBC's Jeremy McDermott in Colombia.