BOGOTA, April 11 (Xinhuanet) -- A Lower House representative was shot dead along with his sister and his driver in the rural area of Valencia municipality in northeastern Colombia, police said on Monday.

    A group of five gunmen intercepted the vehicle of Liberal Representative Orlando Benitez in Valencia, Cordoba province, and shot dead the three people on board, said local police chief Jose Arias.

    The authorities declined to say who committed the triple murder.

    Colombia has seen the assassination of several political figures in recent weeks, including Town Councilor Luz Martinez whowas shot dead when he was addressing a crowd in Puerto Rico municipality, western Caqueta province.

    At least 1,037 Colombians, including combatants and civilians, died in actions related to the internal armed conflict in the country during the first three months of 2005, a local human rights organization said here on April 8. Enditem