France urges Colombian rebels to accept gov't proposal
France on Wednesday urged Colombia's rebel group the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) to accept a government proposal to negotiate a swap of hostages for prisoners.

Colombia has offered to meet unconditionally with the FARC rebels at a time and place of their own choosing to discuss the exchange of some 60 hostages, including a former presidential candidate and three Americans, for some 500 guerrillas held in state prisons.

Spokesman of the French Embassy to Bogota Cecile Pozzo di Bofgo said his country always supports the principle of a humanitarian agreement which could pave the way for the release of the hostages.

A few days ago, French President Jacques Chirac sent a delegate to meet with FARC spokesman Raul Reyes, after which the FARC released a government soldier as a conciliatory gesture.

Hostages held by the FARC in secret jungle camps include Ingrid Betancourt, a French-Colombian national captured while campaigning for Colombia's presidency in February 2002 as well as three Americans -- US Defense Department contractors. The others include Colombian police officers, soldiers and politicians.

The FARC is the largest rebel group in Colombia with approximately 20,000 combatants.

The country has been locked in a four-decade civil war, in which government forces, guerrillas and paramilitaries fight one another. The conflicts kill more than 3,000 people a year.