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Colombia government to hold peace talks with Farc rebels | |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos has confirmed his government will hold exploratory peace talks with the Farc rebel group, the Farc. | |
In an address broadcast on state TV, Mr Santos said he had fulfilled his "commitment to seek peace". | |
Media reports say the two sides have signed a deal in the Cuban capital, Havana, to begin talks in October. | |
The left-wing Farc rebels have been fighting the Colombian government for almost five decades. | |
Last August, the Farc leader at the time, Alfonso Cano, said the group was ready for peace negotiations. | Last August, the Farc leader at the time, Alfonso Cano, said the group was ready for peace negotiations. |
Since then, rumours have circulated about secret meetings between government representatives and the rebels in the Cuban capital. | Since then, rumours have circulated about secret meetings between government representatives and the rebels in the Cuban capital. |
According to the regional media network Telesur the first round of talks would be held in the Norwegian capital, Oslo, on 5 October. | |
Negotiators would then continue holding talks in Havana, it added. | |
Decades of conflict | Decades of conflict |
Upon taking office just over two years ago, Mr Santos signalled his willingness to open peace talks. | |
He has come under severe criticism for this, from his predecessor, Alvaro Uribe. | |
The Farc also re-stated their openness to talks in a letter sent to a non-governmental organisation in March. | The Farc also re-stated their openness to talks in a letter sent to a non-governmental organisation in March. |
Following the death of Alfonso Cano in a bombing raid, Farc's new leader, known as Timochenko, said it was "worth betting on peace". | Following the death of Alfonso Cano in a bombing raid, Farc's new leader, known as Timochenko, said it was "worth betting on peace". |
Colombian security forces have achieved a series of successes against the rebel group in the past years, killing some of its key leaders and arresting many others. | Colombian security forces have achieved a series of successes against the rebel group in the past years, killing some of its key leaders and arresting many others. |
But in recent months, the rebels have stepped up their guerrilla campaign, bombing electricity pylons and bridges and disrupting key infrastructure. | But in recent months, the rebels have stepped up their guerrilla campaign, bombing electricity pylons and bridges and disrupting key infrastructure. |
Colombian security forces estimate that the rebels have some 8,000 guerrillas fighting Latin America's longest-running insurgency. | Colombian security forces estimate that the rebels have some 8,000 guerrillas fighting Latin America's longest-running insurgency. |