UPDATE 1-Colombia says Oct imports up 33 pct vs Oct 2006

(Adds data, background)

BOGOTA, Dec 11 (Reuters) - Colombian October imports rose 33 percent to about $3.19 billion versus the same month last year, the government said on Tuesday.

Imports for the first 10 months of the year rose to about $26.93 billion, 26.6 percent above the same 2006 period, said a statement from the National Statistics Department.

Colombia's import demand has jumped along with vigorous economic growth brought by better security as government troops push drug-running leftist rebels into the defensive.

Economists on average expect Colombia's gross domestic product to expand more than 6.5 percent this year. (Reporting by Nelson Bocanegra; Editing by Diane Craft)