Bogota, July 29 (IANS/EFE) A peasant boy hunting wild animals was killed by soldiers in a wooded area in Colombia, a military official said.

A second boy was wounded in Wednesday's incident, which occurred in La Argentina, a rural area near Vistahermosa town, Caracol Radio reported.

Soldiers from a mobile brigade heard gunshots, thought they were being fired at and opened fire on the boys, a military spokesmen said, adding that hunting is prohibited in the area.

The boys were armed with shotguns, he said.