BOGOTA, Dec. 18 (Xinhuanet) -- A total of 553 paramilitaries of the far-right United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) laid down their arms Saturday in southwestern Colombia.

    The paramilitary fighters, including 20 women, belong to the Calima Bloc of the AUC. They handed in their mortars, grenades, ammunition, assault-rifles and pistols.

    Peace Commissioner Luis Restrepo and officials of the Organization of American States (OAS) attended Saturday's demobilization ceremony, the fifth disbandment in less than a month under the Andean country's peace initiative.

    In Colombia, paramilitaries are illegal combatants who take part in far-right clandestine groups to fight against guerrillas. Human rights groups said the AUC have killed hundreds of people for the hypothesis of helping guerrillas.

    In the ceremony, Bloc Commander Hernan Hernandez said the demobilization process is of most importance for peace in the country.

    OAS envoy Sergio Caramagna highlighted progress in the process that aims at demobilizing some 20,000 AUC paramilitaries by Dec. 31, 2005.

    More than 3,000 paramilitary combatants have laid down their arms since mid-2003 when the government's paramilitary pacification program began. In the next few days the Pacific Bloc will also be demobilized.

    The Calima Bloc is part of the 20,000-strong AUC. In the biggest disarmament in Colombia's history, 1,400 AUC members turned in their weapons a week ago near the Venezuelan border.

Enditem