BOGOTA, Sept. 18 (Xinhuanet) -- The Colombian office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on Saturday condemned the murder of a renown Colombian sociologist that police attributed toillegal armed groups.

    The UN office firmly condemned the murder of Alfredo Correa de Andreis and his bodyguard and asked the authorities to find and punish those who were involved.

    "In lamenting this crime, the Office trusts the authorities will clear it up and punish those who are liable," said the UnitedNations in a communique.

    Correa was released two months ago after being arrested on June17 by the Secret Police, and put at the disposal of the Attorney General's office, under the charge of sedition due to presumed ties with illegal armed groups in Colombia.

    "Late in July, the Attorney General's office revoked the detention of professor Correa as no elements were found to justifyit," said the communique.

    According to academic sources, Correa was arrested because of astudy he carried out on the thousands of displaced people caused by internal armed conflicts in Colombia.

    The Colombian police offered a 20,000-US-dollar reward for information leading to the capture of the assassins. He was shot dead Friday night when heading to his house in Barranquilla, capital of Atlantico. Enditem