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Chavez offer on Farc is rejected Chavez offer on Farc is rejected
(about 4 hours later)
The Colombian government has rejected a proposal by the Venezuelan president, Hugo Chavez, to meet the leader of the Farc rebel group in Colombia. The Colombian government has rejected a proposal by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to travel to Colombia to meet the leader of the Farc rebel group.
Colombia's peace commissioner, Luis Carlos Restrepo, said the government did not consider the idea viable. Colombia's peace commissioner, Luis Carlos Restrepo, said the government did not consider the idea of a face-to-face meeting viable.
Mr Chavez has agreed to act as a mediator in negotiations between the left-wing rebels and the government. He repeated that Mr Chavez could meet the left-wing rebels in Venezuela.
Meanwhile, forensic experts said 11 politicians previously held by Farc died of multiple gunshot wounds. Meanwhile, forensic experts said 11 Farc hostages - all politicians - had died of gunshot wounds.
Mr Chavez said during his weekly address on Venezuelan TV he had received a letter from the Farc leader, Manuel Marulanda, who said he was unable to travel to Venezuela and instead invited the Venezuelan president to meet him in Colombia. The men died in disputed circumstances in June.
While rejecting the Venezuelan leader's offer, Mr Restrepo reiterated his government's support for talks between Mr Chavez and the Farc leadership in Venezuela. An international team examining the bodies said a report providing more details of the deaths would be presented to the secretary general of the Organisation of American States on Friday.
The idea was first discussed on 31 August during a visit to Bogota by Mr Chavez, when the Colombian President, Alvaro Uribe, authorised his Venezuelan counterpart to play a mediating role in long-stalled talks to free hostages held by Farc.
Remains
Among about 45 prominent hostages held by the rebels are three US defence contractors, whose small plane crashed in the jungle while on an anti-narcotics mission in 2003, and former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, a French-Colombian citizen.
Eleven politicians, who had been held by Farc, died in disputed circumstances in June.
The head of an international team examining the bodies, James Young, said a report providing more details of the deaths, including the distance from which the bullets were fired, would be presented to the secretary general of the Organisation of American States on Friday.
Their bodies were recovered at the weekend, and the authorities in Colombia have begun transferring their remains to their families.Their bodies were recovered at the weekend, and the authorities in Colombia have begun transferring their remains to their families.
'Not appropriate'
Mr Chavez agreed last month to act as a mediator in negotiations between Farc representatives and the Colombian government.
On Sunday, Mr Chavez said he was "willing to go into the deepest part of the largest jungle to talk" with the Farc leader, Manuel Marulanda.
Mr Chavez also said he had received a letter from Marulanda, saying he was unable to travel to Venezuela, and invited the Venezuelan president to meet him in Colombia instead.
However, in a brief statement, Mr Restrepo said the government "does not consider appropriate" a meeting between Mr Chavez and the Farc on Colombian soil.
Among about 45 prominent hostages held by the rebels are three US defence contractors, whose small plane crashed in the jungle while on an anti-narcotics mission in 2003.
Also being held is former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, a French-Colombian citizen.