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Trial of Irishmen in Colombia resumes

The trial of three Irishmen charged with training left-wing FARC rebels in Colombia has resumed in Bogota.

The court case, which has taken over a year, is expected to end this week. However, the verdict is not expected for some time.

The men were arrested at Bogota International Airport almost two years ago as they returned from a de-militarised zone in Colombia.

They claim they were observing the Colombian peace process and have so far refused to appear in court, claiming they will not get a fair trial.

In his final summing up, the prosecutor said that Martin McCauley, James Monaghan and Niall Connolly were detained red-handed at Bogota airport in August 2001.

He told the court that the men were members of the IRA and that they had travelled to the FARC-controlled area to train the rebels in terrorist activities and how to handle explosives.

He called for the maximum sentence to be imposed.

Catríona Ruane of the Bring Them Home committee has said that the main charge should be dropped against the three men.

She claimed the prosecution had no evidence against them and they should be sent home immediately.

Fianna Fáil MEP Niall Andrews, who is part of the international observers' team, has said he will be raising the case of the three men in the European Parliament when it resumes after summer recreation.