|
BOGOTA, Aug. 9 (Xinhuanet) -- The Colombian government agreed Tuesday to meet
with the armed rebel group Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) on a
humanitarian exchange of imprisonedrebels for hostages.
"The government accepts the hamlet of Aures, Caicedonia municipality, as
the venue for the meeting with FARC to address the humanitarian agreement,"
Peace Commissioner Luis Carlos Restrepo said.
However, he did not disclose whether the government would withdraw troops
from two regions as demanded by the FARC.
Earlier, the commissioner held a meeting with relatives of the hostages in
the hands of the armed group in Cali, the country's third most important city.
The principal guerrilla force in the country proposed the release of 59
hostages, including former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, in exchange
for 500 imprisoned rebels.
The FARC demanded the demilitarization of two municipalities, Florida and
Pradera in Valle del Cauca department, in order to proceed with the negotiations
with the government for the exchange.
In response, Colombian President Alvaro Uribe said the government would
discuss the exchange with the FARC, but it is against demilitarizing the two
municipalities.
The FARC is the main rebel group in Colombia with at
least 17,000 combatants. Enditem |