BOGOTA, Aug. 30 (Xinhuanet) -- The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) has proposed to hold face-to-face negotiations with the government in a demilitarized zone, instead of over the Internet.

    Interior and Justice Minister Sabas Pretelt said Monday that the government is studying the rebel group's position.

    He said the proposal for the establishment of a demilitarization zone must be discussed at the talks, since the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC), another rebel group in the country, set up a similar zone and gained some achievementsin a demobilization process and peace negotiations.

    FARC leader Raul Reyes told a radio interview Sunday that the guerrilla organization accepts government Peace Commissioner Luis Restrepo as a negotiator to discuss the humanitarian exchange of jailed guerrillas.

    The FARC is holding 22 Colombian politicians, 37 government soldiers and three US citizens. It says hostages will be freed only when the government releases 500 jailed guerrillas, but the government said only rebels accused of rebellion and not more serious crimes would be freed.

    The FARC is the country's most powerful guerrilla group with upto 17,000 combatants. It had requested the government several times to free more than 400 jailed guerrillas in return for the hostages it held. But the requests have been rejected by the government.

    Colombia has been plagued by a four-decade civil war, in which leftist rebels, far-right paramilitary and government troops fighteach other, killing 3,500 people every year.

    About 2,000 people, including 22 foreigners, were kidnapped in Colombia last year. Enditem