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Colombia: Farc declares unilateral truce at landmark talks | Colombia: Farc declares unilateral truce at landmark talks |
(35 minutes later) | |
Colombia's left-wing Farc rebels have declared a unilateral two-month ceasefire as they start peace talks with government negotiators. | Colombia's left-wing Farc rebels have declared a unilateral two-month ceasefire as they start peace talks with government negotiators. |
The announcement was made by the Farc delegates in Cuba's capital Havana, the venue of the landmark talks. | |
The first face-to-face meeting is aimed at ending five decades of conflict in which some 600,000 people have died. | The first face-to-face meeting is aimed at ending five decades of conflict in which some 600,000 people have died. |
The top government negotiator earlier said the army would continue fighting the Farc until it signed a peace deal. | |
Humberto de la Calle stressed that the rebels must agree to give up their weapons. | |
Talks agenda | Talks agenda |
Farc lead negotiator Ivan Marquez said the rebels would halt all attacks from midnight on Monday until 20 January. | Farc lead negotiator Ivan Marquez said the rebels would halt all attacks from midnight on Monday until 20 January. |
He said it was "a contribution made to strengthen the climate of understanding necessary so that the parties that are starting the dialogue achieve the purpose desired by all Colombians". | He said it was "a contribution made to strengthen the climate of understanding necessary so that the parties that are starting the dialogue achieve the purpose desired by all Colombians". |
The government negotiators have so far made no comments on the latest Farc move. | |
The negotiations in Havana are expected to focus initially on the issue of land reform in Colombia, as it was a major reason for the uprising that brought about the establishment of the Farc (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) in the early 1960s. | The negotiations in Havana are expected to focus initially on the issue of land reform in Colombia, as it was a major reason for the uprising that brought about the establishment of the Farc (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) in the early 1960s. |
Four other points will be discussed: the end of armed conflict; guarantees for the exercise of political opposition and citizen participation; drug trafficking; and the rights of the victims of the conflict. | Four other points will be discussed: the end of armed conflict; guarantees for the exercise of political opposition and citizen participation; drug trafficking; and the rights of the victims of the conflict. |
During the official launch of the talks in Norway last month, Farc rebels had called the government to agree a truce. | During the official launch of the talks in Norway last month, Farc rebels had called the government to agree a truce. |
But the Colombian government said at the time it would not repeat the mistakes of the past - a reference to the last peace efforts, which went on from 1999 to 2002. | But the Colombian government said at the time it would not repeat the mistakes of the past - a reference to the last peace efforts, which went on from 1999 to 2002. |
At the time, a huge area controlled by the rebels in the south of the country was demilitarised, which, according to critics, allowed them to rearm and weakened their will to seek a peace agreement. | |
The Farc, who numbered 16,000 in 2001, are now thought to have some 8,000 fighters. | The Farc, who numbered 16,000 in 2001, are now thought to have some 8,000 fighters. |