BOGOTA, May 17 (Xinhua) -- At least 12 Colombian soldiers were injured Tuesday morning after their military vehicle was hit by explosives planted by suspected armed rebels in the department of Meta, the Colombian National Army said.

"The terrorist attack occurred as the military personnel ... were being transported in a vehicle to an area for manual demining, and apparently, the explosives were detonated as they passed by," the army said in a statement.

According to the statement, the ambush occurred in a rural area of the town of Vistahermosa, a stronghold of dissident guerrillas of the disbanded Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia.

"The National Army condemns this act, which violates human rights and international humanitarian law," the army said.

The wounded soldiers were taken to a medical center for treatment, it added.