COLOMBIA ARMS

An instrument maker displays three electric guitars, which were converted from AK47 rifles, in Bogota September 13, 2006. Polished rosewood and an artist’s deft touch are all Colombian craftsman Luis Alberto Paredes needs to turn tools of death into symbols of hope. One of Colombia’s top musical instrument makers, Paredes has branched out from traditional methods to fashion electric guitars from shotguns and AK47 rifles once used by fighters caught up in the country’s lingering guerilla conflict. Picture taken September 13, 2006. To match feature COLOMBIA ARMS REUTERS/Jose Miguel Gomez (COLOMBIA)