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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Chavez to meet Colombian rebels | Chavez to meet Colombian rebels |
| (19 minutes later) | |
| Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has agreed to invite Colombian rebels to discuss a hostage release deal. | Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has agreed to invite Colombian rebels to discuss a hostage release deal. |
| Mr Chavez announced the plan after talks with Colombian leader Alvaro Uribe on his role as mediator between Colombia's government and the rebels. | Mr Chavez announced the plan after talks with Colombian leader Alvaro Uribe on his role as mediator between Colombia's government and the rebels. |
| Mr Chavez hopes to secure the release of hostages by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) in exchange for rebels held by the authorities. | Mr Chavez hopes to secure the release of hostages by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) in exchange for rebels held by the authorities. |
| The two sides disagree on key issues, including a demilitarised zone. | The two sides disagree on key issues, including a demilitarised zone. |
| Farc wants the government to create a such a zone to conduct the hostage exchange but Mr Uribe has refused to do so. | |
| Confident | |
| Mr Chavez announced his plan to host negotiations after a marathon six-hour session of talks at Mr Uribe's farm near Bogota. | Mr Chavez announced his plan to host negotiations after a marathon six-hour session of talks at Mr Uribe's farm near Bogota. |
| "President Uribe has welcomed the idea that I receive Farc representatives in Venezuela," Mr Chavez said. | "President Uribe has welcomed the idea that I receive Farc representatives in Venezuela," Mr Chavez said. |
| The BBC's Jeremy McDermott in Bogota says the challenge facing the Venezuelan president is a huge one. | The BBC's Jeremy McDermott in Bogota says the challenge facing the Venezuelan president is a huge one. |
| I ask God that I can contribute to this matter of a humanitarian swap Hugo Chavez,Venezuelan president | I ask God that I can contribute to this matter of a humanitarian swap Hugo Chavez,Venezuelan president |
| The Farc have held some hostages for a decade and have vowed not to free any until hundreds of their comrades in prison are released. | The Farc have held some hostages for a decade and have vowed not to free any until hundreds of their comrades in prison are released. |
| The Colombian government and the Farc have been unable to agree on setting up talks. | The Colombian government and the Farc have been unable to agree on setting up talks. |
| And the rebels so far not made contact with the Venezuelan president in his role as facilitator. | And the rebels so far not made contact with the Venezuelan president in his role as facilitator. |
| But Mr Chavez said that he was confident that he would be able to arbitrate successfully. | But Mr Chavez said that he was confident that he would be able to arbitrate successfully. |
| "I ask God that I can contribute to this matter of a humanitarian swap, to the matter of the search for peace, which is peace for all of us - peace for Venezuela, peace for Colombia, union and integration," he said. | "I ask God that I can contribute to this matter of a humanitarian swap, to the matter of the search for peace, which is peace for all of us - peace for Venezuela, peace for Colombia, union and integration," he said. |
| Mr Chavez also said he would also host talks between the government and Colombia's second-largest rebel group, the National Liberation Army (ELN). | Mr Chavez also said he would also host talks between the government and Colombia's second-largest rebel group, the National Liberation Army (ELN). |
| Negotiations between the two sides that had been held in Cuba have recently stalled. | Negotiations between the two sides that had been held in Cuba have recently stalled. |
| French connection | French connection |
| Farc rebels currently hold dozens of hostages, including several high-profile figures. | Farc rebels currently hold dozens of hostages, including several high-profile figures. |
| Relatives of those held captive are reported to be optimistic about Mr Chavez's involvement. | Relatives of those held captive are reported to be optimistic about Mr Chavez's involvement. |
| "It's the first time I see there could be a small light at the end of the tunnel," said Juan Carlos Lecompte, husband of French-Colombian Ingrid Betancourt, a former presidential candidate abducted by the Farc in 2002. | "It's the first time I see there could be a small light at the end of the tunnel," said Juan Carlos Lecompte, husband of French-Colombian Ingrid Betancourt, a former presidential candidate abducted by the Farc in 2002. |
| In June the Colombian authorities released Farc leader Rodrigo Granda - known as the group's "foreign minister" - as a prelude to freeing another 200 guerrillas from prison. | In June the Colombian authorities released Farc leader Rodrigo Granda - known as the group's "foreign minister" - as a prelude to freeing another 200 guerrillas from prison. |
| President Uribe said he had been influenced by President Nicolas Sarkozy of France, who was acting in the interests of Ms Betancourt. | President Uribe said he had been influenced by President Nicolas Sarkozy of France, who was acting in the interests of Ms Betancourt. |
| Mr Chavez and Mr Uribe also discussed trade issues and a gas pipeline between the two states during their meeting in Bogota. | Mr Chavez and Mr Uribe also discussed trade issues and a gas pipeline between the two states during their meeting in Bogota. |