In Colombia, talks may lead to hostage swap, peace
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BOGOTA -- Colombia's biggest leftist rebel group proposed a conditional cease-fire with the government yesterday, its biggest step toward peace since Alvaro Uribe became president in 2002.
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CAMPO DOS, Colombia -- As Javier Alfonso Vela watched 1,425 paramilitary soldiers turn in their weapons under a blazing sun Friday in Colombia's largest demobilization of combatants, the missionary wondered aloud whether disarming right-wing militias would be a first step to ending his country's 40-year-old conflict, or a dangerous opening for the return of leftist guerrillas to this provincial outpost ...
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Colombian President Alvaro Uribe on Friday welcomed Group of Eight nations' support for his initiative to free hostages held by left-wing rebels, but a guerrilla leader he released from prison to try to negotiate a deal warned that any agreement remained elusive.
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BOGOTA, Colombia  - Colombian rebels holding 62   hostages, including three Americans and former presidential   candidate Ingrid Betancourt, called on Monday for   "face-to-face" talks with the government on a prisoner   exchange.
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Colombia agreed Wednesday to allow Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to send his planes and helicopters into its territory to pick up three hostages who have been held for years by leftist rebels
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Colombia's government on Sunday cleared the way for FARC guerrillas to handover three more hostages to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez even as the Andean neighbors quarrel over his role in freeing rebel captives.
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Colombia offers to exchange jailed rebels for hostages held by Farc militants - a reversal of earlier policy.
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Colombia agreed Wednesday to allow Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to send his planes and helicopters into its territory to pick up three hostages who have been held for years by leftist rebels.
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Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez plans to send aircraft into Colombia on Friday to pick up three hostages from Marxist rebels and score a diplomatic victory after recent setbacks for his socialist revolution.
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SAN JOSE DEL GUAVIARE, Colombia, Jan 10 - Marxist rebels freed two women hostages from Colombia's jungle on Thursday in a deal brokered by Venezuela's leftist president, Hugo Chavez, that could mark a breakthrough in peace efforts.
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Venezuela's leftist President Hugo Chavez prepared to send helicopters into Colombia on Friday to pick up three hostages held for years by Marxist rebels, but they were unlikely to be freed until the weekend.
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A Colombian guerrilla leader freed to broker the release of rebel-held hostages said on Tuesday an accord was essential, but insisted President Alvaro Uribe agree to a demilitarized zone as a condition for talks.
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Colombia's president is ready to hold talks to try to end a diplomatic row with Venezuela, an aide says.
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Efforts at freeing hostages held by Colombian rebels stalled over the weekend after a guerrilla leader said he would not attend talks in neighboring Venezuela aimed at clinching a prisoner exchange.
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Colombian President Alvaro Uribe authorized France, Spain and Switzerland on Saturday to revive their efforts to seek an accord with leftist rebels on releasing scores of hostages, including a French-Colombian politician and three Americans.
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VILLAVICENCIO, Colombia  - Colombia's government and Marxist guerrilla leaders blamed each other on Monday for long delays that could scupper a deal to release three hostages held for years by the rebels in jungle camps.
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Venezuela has started a rescue operation in Colombia to secure the release of two hostages held by leftist rebels, an official said on Thursday, after a similar effort led by President Hugo Chavez collapsed last year.