Colombia's largest rebel group has proposed terms for a prisoner swap with the government, as a step toward peace talks on ending the country's civil war.
The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, said Monday the Colombian government should withdraw troops from an 800-square kilometer area where talks on a prisoner exchange would take place. The rebel group says the zone in the southwestern state of Valle del Cauca should be kept demilitarized for 45 days.
include a former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, and three American citizens.
FARC says that if its conditions are met, it will seek a political solution to its 42-year long armed conflict with Bogota.
Colombian President Alvaro Uribe instructed his government Monday to negotiate with the rebels on setting up a demilitarized zone.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.