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Colombian FARC rebels declare unilateral ceasefire

The head of the Colombian government's delegation plants a tree in a garden of Havana at the peace talks
The head of the Colombian government's delegation plants a tree in a garden of Havana at the peace talks

Colombia's FARC guerrillas have declared an indefinite, unilateral ceasefire, saying they would only use weapons if they came under attack by the army.

"We have resolved to declare a unilateral ceasefire and end hostilities for an indefinite period of time, which should be transformed into an armistice," the groups negotiators at peace talks said.

The talks, aiming to end a 50-year war between the Colombian government and rebels, have been taking place in Cuba since late 2012.

FARC negotiators added that the ceasefire "will end only if our guerrilla units have been the object of attacks by the security forces."

The FARC have repeatedly called for a bilateral ceasefire as part of the ongoing peace process.

However, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos has rejected the demand, saying the rebels could use a ceasefire to regroup, dragging out the conflict.

The peace talks were thrown into crisis last month when the FARC captured an army general, causing Mr Santos to suspend negotiations.

The rebels defended the capture as a legitimate act of war, but released the general on 30 November in order to revive the peace process.

The Colombian conflict has killed more than 220,000 people and uprooted 5.3 million since the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) was founded in the aftermath of a peasant uprising in 1964.