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Four dead in clash with Colombia's Farc ahead of talks Soldiers and Farc rebels killed in clashes ahead of talks
(about 3 hours later)
Colombia's Farc rebels have stepped up their attacks, as the latest round of peace talks with the government gets under way in Cuba. Clashes between Colombia's Farc rebels and the government have left at least nine people dead, as the latest round of peace talks begins in Cuba.
Four soldiers are said to have died and two were injured in a clash with the left-wing group in southern Colombia. Five rebels are said to have died in a government offensive in the north.
Meanwhile, the Farc's chief negotiator, Ivan Marquez, said he had no knowledge of the alleged kidnap of two policemen who went missing last Friday. Four government soldiers were reportedly killed and another two wounded in southern Colombia.
Earlier, the rebels defended their "right" to capture "war prisoners". Colombian chief negotiator, Humberto de la Calle, said the outbreak of violence would not force the government into agreeing a bilateral ceasefire.
Police in Colombia have also blamed the Farc for the disappearance of three oil workers on Wednesday. The five rebels were killed as troops moved into the town of Nudo Paramillo, in the northern region of Antioquia, officials said.
The contractors, working for Canada's Gran Tierra Energy, were taken hostage in the southern Cauca region, news agency Reuters reported. Other clashes reportedly happened early on Thursday as security forces tried to stop the rebels from entering the town of Policarpa, in southern Colombia. During the fighting, the four soldiers were said to have died.
The clashes reportedly happened as security forces tried to stop the rebels from entering the town of Policarpa, also in southern Colombia. Police in Colombia have blamed the Farc for the disappearance of three oil workers on Wednesday, but there has been no confirmation from the rebels.
Despite the violence, the fourth round of negotiations was set to resume in Havana on Thursday. The contractors, working for Canada's Gran Tierra Energy, were taken hostage in the southern Cauca region, Reuters news agency reports.
The government's chief negotiator, Humberto de la Calle, described Farc's statement about "prisoners of war" as word play and said Colombia will not be forced into a bilateral ceasefire by the latest violence. The men were picked up unharmed by the armed forces on Thursday, after being left in a forested area.
Colombia's stance has been to only accept a bilateral truce, once a final peace agreement has been signed. The military said the hostages were abandoned after they stepped up their operations against the Farc in the area.
The rebels declared a unilateral two-month ceasefire at the start of the talks to end five decades of conflict, but it was suspended on 20 January. Last Friday, two policemen disappeared but Farc chief negotiator Ivan Marquez said he had no knowledge of their whereabouts.
Despite the violence and reported abductions, the fourth round of negotiations resumed in Havana on Thursday.
The left-wing rebel group defended what it said was the group's "right" to capture "prisoners of war".
But Colombia's Humberto de la Calle described the Farc's statement about "prisoners of war" as word-play.
The rebels declared a unilateral two-month ceasefire at the start of the talks in November to end five decades of conflict, but it was suspended on 20 January.
Colombia's stance has been to accept a bilateral truce only when a final peace agreement has been signed.
After the last round of negotiations, a Farc spokesman said the negotiations were advancing at an accelerated pace – "in the rhythm of mambo", as he put it.After the last round of negotiations, a Farc spokesman said the negotiations were advancing at an accelerated pace – "in the rhythm of mambo", as he put it.
But Humberto de la Calle has warned that "kidnapping" could harm the talks". But Mr de la Calle has warned that Farc abductions could harm the talks.
The government says the conflict, which has lasted nearly five decades, has cost the lives of more than 500,000 people.The government says the conflict, which has lasted nearly five decades, has cost the lives of more than 500,000 people.
Among the land reform issues proposed by the Farc is a demand that 25 million hectares (62 million acres) of land - more than 20% of the country - be handed over to the country's poor.Among the land reform issues proposed by the Farc is a demand that 25 million hectares (62 million acres) of land - more than 20% of the country - be handed over to the country's poor.