Chavez agrees to meet FARC over hostages

Updated: 07:56, Saturday, 1 September 2007

The Venezuelan President, Hugo Chavez, has agreed to hold talks with Colombian rebels to discuss a hostage release deal.

Mr Chavez announced the plan after meeting the 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 FARC (the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) in exchange for rebels held by the authorities.

Farc wants the government to create a demilitarised zone to conduct the hostage exchange but Mr Uribe has refused to do so.

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