Two members of a guerrilla group and an armed forces sergeant have been killed in a confrontation in central Paraguay, the interior ministry said Thursday.

The clash late Wednesday occurred in a cotton silo that was taken over by 15 members of the Paraguayan People's Army (EPP) who had kidnapped the Brazilian owner's 16-year-old son.

The skirmish occurred in the department of Concepcion, which along with neighboring San Pedro forms the turf of the Marxist-leaning EPP that has alleged ties to Colombia's FARC rebels and area marijuana dealers.

One of the killed guerrillas was identified as Bernardo Bernal Maiz, or "Coco," whom Interior Minister Francisco de Vargas categorized as "one of EPP's key figures."

The second was identified as Claudelino Silva.

"We've extended the search operation for the missing boy," the minister added.

A resident of the Azotey area, where the clash occurred, alerted authorities to the presence of insurgents.

The sergeant was killed after military and police arrived on the scene.

In operation since 2007, the EPP's 30 to 50 guerrillas are responsible for the death of 35 people, according to official reports.