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Colombians in anti-Farc protests Colombians in huge Farc protest
(about 4 hours later)
Colombians around the world have begun a day of protests against the Marxist rebel group Farc. Tens of thousands of Colombians have poured onto the streets of Bogota to protest against Marxist Farc rebels.
The "No More" movement, launched on the internet, will culminate with a major protest in the capital, Bogota. The protesters are waving flags and wearing T-shirts with the slogan "No more kidnapping, no more lies, no more deaths, no more Farc."
Some groups have opposed the march, including some relatives of hostages, who fear the demonstrations may provoke Farc into treating them more harshly. The climax is planned to be a huge march of perhaps half a million people.
Farc rebels pledged at the weekend to release three high-profile political hostages for health reasons. The movement was launched on the internet less than a month ago. But some people, including relatives of kidnap victims, oppose the move.
No handover date was given. They fear the demonstrations may provoke Farc into treating more harshly the 700 captives it is believed to be holding. It has been fighting the Colombian government for 44 years.
Global protest "Maybe neither the hostages nor the humanitarian exchange or peace will benefit," the mother of Ingrid Betancourt, a high-profile hostage, is quoted as saying in Semana magazine.
Colombian expatriates held "No More Farc" demonstrations in the Japanese capital, Tokyo, and in three cities in Australia. I think this march will set a precedent in Colombia because for the first time all Colombians are going to protest as one body Protester But on the streets of Bogota protesters were taking a different view.
In Colombia, marches are planned for 45 cities. "No more Farc, we don't want any more Farc, young people have to say no to the Farc and tell them to stop their violence," student Jaime Martinez said.
The BBC's Jeremy McDermott says school has been cancelled across much of the country so that children can join in, and many businesses have given their workers permission to march. And a woman marching with her three children told the BBC: "I think this march will set a precedent in Colombia because for the first time all Colombians are going to protest as one body."
Similar protests were planned in 45 other cities in Colombia and almost 100 others around the world.
Schools are closed in many big cities, and businesses have closed, allowing workers to march.
Media take-up
The protest was started on the social networking website Facebook by a 33-year-old engineer, Oscar Morales, from his home in Barranquilla on Colombia's Caribbean coast.The protest was started on the social networking website Facebook by a 33-year-old engineer, Oscar Morales, from his home in Barranquilla on Colombia's Caribbean coast.
Over 250,000 Facebook users signed on, and the movement was taken up by newspapers and radio and television stations across the country.Over 250,000 Facebook users signed on, and the movement was taken up by newspapers and radio and television stations across the country.
The overall turnout for Monday's protests is expected to be in the millions, our correspondent says. Armed forces chief Gen Freddy Padilla says negative coverage coming from the 'No More' movement was behind the Farc's weekend announcement that it would release three more political captives.
Hostage release The rebels said that former lawmakers Luis Eladio Perez, Gloria Polanco and Orlando Beltran, who have been held for over six years, were to be released on the grounds of their health.
Some relatives of Farc captives have expressed reservations about the demonstrations.
Some fear protests will make captives' conditions worse"Maybe neither the hostages not the humanitarian exchange or peace will benefit," the mother of Ingrid Betancourt, a high-profile hostage, is quoted as saying in Semana magazine.
But armed forces chief Gen Freddy Padilla says negative coverage coming from the 'No More' movement is behind the Farc's weekend announcement that they would release three more political captives.
The rebels said at the weekend that former lawmakers Luis Eladio Perez, Gloria Polanco and Orlando Beltran, who have been held for over six years, were to be released on the grounds of their health.
No further details were given.No further details were given.
But letters from fellow captives, carried by freed hostages Clara Rojas and Consuelo Gonzales last month, describe harsh detention conditions and debilitating jungle illnesses including malaria and chronic diarrhoea.But letters from fellow captives, carried by freed hostages Clara Rojas and Consuelo Gonzales last month, describe harsh detention conditions and debilitating jungle illnesses including malaria and chronic diarrhoea.
Chavez Chavez role
A Farc statement said that the planned release sprang from mediation efforts by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in the country's long-running conflict. A Farc statement said that the planned release sprang from mediation efforts by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in the long-running conflict.
The role of Mr Chavez has caused diplomatic tensionsThe group offered to make the handover to Mr Chavez and a Colombian opposition senator "personally, or through representatives". Some fear protests will make captives' conditions worse
The group offered to make the handover to Mr Chavez and a Colombian opposition senator "personally, or through representatives".
The group released Ms Rojas and Ms Gonzales in January in a deal that Mr Chavez helped to broker.The group released Ms Rojas and Ms Gonzales in January in a deal that Mr Chavez helped to broker.
Relations between Colombia and Venezuela have become tense over Mr Chavez's role in dealing with the rebels. The BBC's Jeremy McDermott, reporting from Bogota, says the march has showed two things: the deep vein of outrage among ordinary Colombians over the Farc's violence; and the power of the internet to mobilise people across the world.
Although originally invited to mediate in hostage negotiations by his Colombian counterpart Alvaro Uribe, the invitation was withdrawn in November when the Colombian government accused him of overstepping his mandate. But he says it remains to be seen whether the Farc, which has traditionally been impervious to public opinion, will listen to the voices raised against it.
Despite strained ties with Mr Chavez, the Colombian government said on Sunday it welcomed the proposed hostage release and would do what was necessary to bring it about.
"For us, the release of the hostages is above all other consideration," Justice Minister Carlos Holguin told local radio.