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| Terms set for Colombia Farc talks | Terms set for Colombia Farc talks |
| (41 minutes later) | |
| Colombia's President Alvaro Uribe has said he is ready to hold peace talks with Colombia's Farc rebels, but that strict conditions would have to be met. | Colombia's President Alvaro Uribe has said he is ready to hold peace talks with Colombia's Farc rebels, but that strict conditions would have to be met. |
| He called for "a halt to all criminal activities" and a verifiable ceasefire. | He called for "a halt to all criminal activities" and a verifiable ceasefire. |
| "We believe in peace, but we won't allow new tricks," he said, reiterating his resolve to fight the Farc. | "We believe in peace, but we won't allow new tricks," he said, reiterating his resolve to fight the Farc. |
| On Sunday, the Farc dropped its demand for a demilitarised area to be set up as a precondition for talks on a swap of rebel hostages for prisoners. | On Sunday, the Farc dropped its demand for a demilitarised area to be set up as a precondition for talks on a swap of rebel hostages for prisoners. |
| The rebel group has launched a new offensive including a campaign of bomb attacks in cities, after it suffered a series of defeats in 2008 - though it has recently suggested it may be willing to pursue "political alternatives". | The rebel group has launched a new offensive including a campaign of bomb attacks in cities, after it suffered a series of defeats in 2008 - though it has recently suggested it may be willing to pursue "political alternatives". |
| The government, meanwhile, has been pursuing a strategy of pressuring individual rebel units into abandoning the 45-year civil conflict rather than engaging in high-level talks with the leadership. | The government, meanwhile, has been pursuing a strategy of pressuring individual rebel units into abandoning the 45-year civil conflict rather than engaging in high-level talks with the leadership. |
| Now Mr Uribe has said he is willing to talk, but on tough conditions. | Now Mr Uribe has said he is willing to talk, but on tough conditions. |
| "Peace has its demands. The moment a new process begins there must be a clear sign, a halt to all criminal activities by the groups who want to engage in the process, with verification," he said. | "Peace has its demands. The moment a new process begins there must be a clear sign, a halt to all criminal activities by the groups who want to engage in the process, with verification," he said. |
| 'Democratic values' | 'Democratic values' |
| Without the verification, he said, "we risk talking peace in a language that obfuscates terrorism". | Without the verification, he said, "we risk talking peace in a language that obfuscates terrorism". |
| The rebels have pursued their violent campaign despite a series of setbacks | The rebels have pursued their violent campaign despite a series of setbacks |
| He reiterated his government's resolve to fight terrorism "in an all-out effort and in full respect of democratic values". | He reiterated his government's resolve to fight terrorism "in an all-out effort and in full respect of democratic values". |
| Mr Uribe has repeatedly been accused of ignoring human rights in his determination to crush the rebels. | Mr Uribe has repeatedly been accused of ignoring human rights in his determination to crush the rebels. |
| The Farc, meanwhile, has relaxed its insistence on securing an extensive demilitarised zone in Colombia's south-west as a precondition for talks over exchanging 22 prominent hostages for hundreds of jailed rebels. | The Farc, meanwhile, has relaxed its insistence on securing an extensive demilitarised zone in Colombia's south-west as a precondition for talks over exchanging 22 prominent hostages for hundreds of jailed rebels. |
| There were several failed attempts at peace negotiations with Mr Uribe's predecessor, Andres Pastrana, but since Mr Uribe came to power in 2002 such initiatives have been largely abandoned. | There were several failed attempts at peace negotiations with Mr Uribe's predecessor, Andres Pastrana, but since Mr Uribe came to power in 2002 such initiatives have been largely abandoned. |