This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-31827852
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Colombia to temporarily halt bombing of Farc rebels | Colombia to temporarily halt bombing of Farc rebels |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Colombia is to halt bombing raids against Farc rebels for a month, President Juan Manuel Santos says, in a further sign of progress in the country's peace process. | |
| Mr Santos said the move was in recognition of the fact a unilateral ceasefire declared by Farc was holding. | Mr Santos said the move was in recognition of the fact a unilateral ceasefire declared by Farc was holding. |
| But operations against another guerrilla group - the National Liberation Army (ELN) - will continue. | But operations against another guerrilla group - the National Liberation Army (ELN) - will continue. |
| Colombia's government and the Farc are holding peace talks in Cuba. | Colombia's government and the Farc are holding peace talks in Cuba. |
| "In regards to the indefinite, unilateral ceasefire declared by the Farc on December 18, we must recognise that they have fulfilled it," Mr Santos said in a televised address. | |
| "In order to start the de-escalation of the conflict, I have decided to order the minister of defence and armed forces commanders to stop bombing raids on Farc camps for a month," he added. | |
| Breathing space? | |
| President Santos was critical of the smaller Colombian rebel movement, the ELN, saying the group had "increased its criminal activities". | |
| His conservative opponents say halting the bombing will give the rebels valuable breathing space. Aerial raids have been a key component in the government's military campaign. | |
| Farc negotiators have been engaged in peace talks with the Colombian government since November 2012. | Farc negotiators have been engaged in peace talks with the Colombian government since November 2012. |
| They have reached partial agreements on a number of issues, including on the drugs trade, land reform and political participation, although they have yet to reach a final deal. | |
| A peace commission composed of Colombian businesspeople and politicians is to be formed to help guide the process through its final stages, Mr Santos said in his speech. | |
| One potential stumbling block is whether rebels should face justice for crimes committed during the conflict. | |
| At the weekend, the two sides announced plans to work together to clear unexploded landmines in rural areas of the country. | At the weekend, the two sides announced plans to work together to clear unexploded landmines in rural areas of the country. |
| More than 220,000 people are estimated to have died in five decades of conflict. | More than 220,000 people are estimated to have died in five decades of conflict. |
| The breakthroughs | |
| November 2012 - Formal peace talks begin in the Cuban capital Havana between the Colombian government and the Farc | |
| May 2013 - A deal is reached on land reform, one of the most contentious issues. It calls for fair access to land, and rural development, two key causes of the conflict | |
| November 2013 - The two sides agree on the political participation of the Farc should a peace deal be reached | |
| May 2014 - Both parties pledge to eliminate all illicit drug production in Colombia | |
| December 2014 - The Farc declares a unilateral ceasefire | |
| March 2015 - Both sides agree to work together to remove landmines. Colombia is one of the most heavily mined countries in the world | |
| What is at stake in Colombia's peace process? |