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| Farc rebels have been fighting the government since 1964 |
The
Colombian government and the country's largest rebel group, the Farc, have
signed an agreement to begin peace talks, according to Latin American media
reports.
The
regional media network Telesur said the two sides had signed a formal agreement
in the Cuban capital, Havana, to begin talks in October.
The
Colombian government has neither confirmed nor denied the reports.
The
left-wing rebels have been fighting the government for almost five decades.
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.
According
to Telesur News Director Jorge Enrique Botero, the first round of talks would
be held in the Norwegian capital, Oslo, on 5 October.
The
negotiating team would then continue holding talks in Havana "until a
peace deal to put an end to five decades of conflict" was agreed, Mr
Botero said.
Decades of
conflict
Upon taking
office just over two years ago, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos
signalled his willingness to open peace talks.
He has come
under severe criticism for this from his predecessor in office, Alvaro Uribe.
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".
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.
Colombian
security forces estimate that the rebels have some 8,000 guerrillas fighting
Latin America's longest-running insurgency.
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