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| Farc suspends truce after Colombia army attack | Farc suspends truce after Colombia army attack |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Colombia's Farc leftist rebel group has suspended a unilateral ceasefire after 26 of its fighters were killed in a government air and ground offensive. | Colombia's Farc leftist rebel group has suspended a unilateral ceasefire after 26 of its fighters were killed in a government air and ground offensive. |
| The ceasefire had been in place since December 2014. | The ceasefire had been in place since December 2014. |
| Farc said it wanted a full bilateral truce but stressed it was not abandoning the long-running peace talks taking place in Havana. | |
| Meanwhile President Juan Manuel Santos has called on the rebels to "speed up" the negotiations. | |
| The two sides have been in on-off negotiations since 2012 in an attempt to end more than half a century of conflict. | The two sides have been in on-off negotiations since 2012 in an attempt to end more than half a century of conflict. |
| Thursday's attack - in the country's south-western Cauca region - was the deadliest since the resumption of air strikes against the rebels last month. | Thursday's attack - in the country's south-western Cauca region - was the deadliest since the resumption of air strikes against the rebels last month. |
| The guerrilla group said in a statement that the ceasefire suspension was the result of "five months of land and air offensives against our structures all over the country". | The guerrilla group said in a statement that the ceasefire suspension was the result of "five months of land and air offensives against our structures all over the country". |
| "We deplore the joint attack by the air force, the army and the police," said the statement. | "We deplore the joint attack by the air force, the army and the police," said the statement. |
| "We feel pain for the deaths of guerrilla fighters as well as soldiers, sons of a same people and from poor families". | "We feel pain for the deaths of guerrilla fighters as well as soldiers, sons of a same people and from poor families". |
| But the group said they were willing to continue with the latest round of peace talks in Havana. | But the group said they were willing to continue with the latest round of peace talks in Havana. |
| "Against our will we will proceed with the [peace] talks in the middle of a confrontation," they said. | "Against our will we will proceed with the [peace] talks in the middle of a confrontation," they said. |
| They also reiterated their demand for Mr Santos to agree a bilateral ceasefire. | They also reiterated their demand for Mr Santos to agree a bilateral ceasefire. |
| Analysis: Natalio Cosoy, BBC Colombia Correspondent | Analysis: Natalio Cosoy, BBC Colombia Correspondent |
| The peace talks in Havana between Colombia's government and Farc rebels were shaken in November when the rebels captured a high-ranking army general, who was later released. | The peace talks in Havana between Colombia's government and Farc rebels were shaken in November when the rebels captured a high-ranking army general, who was later released. |
| They were shaken again in April when the rebel group ambushed an army unit and killed 11 of its men. | They were shaken again in April when the rebel group ambushed an army unit and killed 11 of its men. |
| Now another flaring of violence will pile even more pressure on the men and women sitting around a table in the Cuban capital. | Now another flaring of violence will pile even more pressure on the men and women sitting around a table in the Cuban capital. |
| The decision by the Farc to suspend its ceasefire seems to suggest an intensification of Colombia's half-century-long internal conflict. More attacks by the group are expected, as well as new government offensives. | The decision by the Farc to suspend its ceasefire seems to suggest an intensification of Colombia's half-century-long internal conflict. More attacks by the group are expected, as well as new government offensives. |
| But both the government and the rebel group insisted in the wake of this latest confrontation that they will not abandon the negotiations in Havana. | But both the government and the rebel group insisted in the wake of this latest confrontation that they will not abandon the negotiations in Havana. |
| Moreover, some analysts in Colombia believe that this apparent setback could in fact be the first step towards a bilateral ceasefire. | Moreover, some analysts in Colombia believe that this apparent setback could in fact be the first step towards a bilateral ceasefire. |
| Mr Santos, who restarted air strikes against the rebels last month after 11 soldiers were killed in an ambush, addressed the rebels via his Twitter account. | Mr Santos, who restarted air strikes against the rebels last month after 11 soldiers were killed in an ambush, addressed the rebels via his Twitter account. |
| He wrote: "Gentlemen of the Farc: now is the time to speed up the negotiations. How many more deaths do we need to understand that we have arrived at the time for peace!" he wrote. | He wrote: "Gentlemen of the Farc: now is the time to speed up the negotiations. How many more deaths do we need to understand that we have arrived at the time for peace!" he wrote. |
| Thursday's military action comprised an air strike and ground assault against the rebel group in Guapi, Cauca, said officials. | Thursday's military action comprised an air strike and ground assault against the rebel group in Guapi, Cauca, said officials. |
| The operation's aim was the capture of a rebel known by the alias "Javier", and two rebels were captured along with those killed, defence ministry officials told the Efe news agency. | The operation's aim was the capture of a rebel known by the alias "Javier", and two rebels were captured along with those killed, defence ministry officials told the Efe news agency. |
| At the previous round of peace talks, the Farc called for the dismantling of right-wing paramilitary groups fighting against the rebels. | At the previous round of peace talks, the Farc called for the dismantling of right-wing paramilitary groups fighting against the rebels. |
| The two sides failed to reach an agreement over reparations for the victims of the conflict, an issue that has been wrangled over for months. | The two sides failed to reach an agreement over reparations for the victims of the conflict, an issue that has been wrangled over for months. |
| The peace process | The peace process |
| November 2012 - Formal peace talks begin in the Cuban capital Havana between the Colombian government and the Farc. | 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. | 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. | 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. | May 2014 - Both parties pledge to eliminate all illicit drug production in Colombia. |
| December 2014 - Farc declares a unilateral ceasefire. | December 2014 - 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. | March 2015 - Both sides agree to work together to remove landmines. Colombia is one of the most heavily mined countries in the world. |
| April 2015 Government resumes air strikes after the Farc kills 11 soldiers in ambush. | April 2015 Government resumes air strikes after the Farc kills 11 soldiers in ambush. |
| May 2015 Farc suspends its unilateral ceasefire after government military operation kills 26 rebel fighters. | May 2015 Farc suspends its unilateral ceasefire after government military operation kills 26 rebel fighters. |
| What is at stake in Colombia's peace process? | What is at stake in Colombia's peace process? |