The French government no longer has a mediator in the rebel group since the death of the second in command of FARC, Raul Reyes, a leading rebel Ivan Marquez state din an interview published Tuesday by the AnnCol agency, a source close to the Colombian rebel group.

“The person designated y the FARC leadership to speak with the French Government delegation was Raul Reyes, but as everyone knows, Raul as killed during a military attack by the Colombian and American government in Ecuador”, on 1 march, stated the rebel leader.

“That is why the French government has been unable to contact FARC”< he said.

The rebel leader was referring to the failure of the humanitarian mission launched in early April by the French government to try to help the French-Colombian Ingrid Betancourt, held by FARC for over six years.

Paris decided last week to recall the plane with medical personnel and representatives that had been sent to Bogota following a strong refusal from FARC.

Referring to the death of Raul Reyes and the killing of Ivan Rios, Ivan Marquez said that “dedicated leaders with military and political expertise such as Joaquin Gomez and Maurico Jaramillo have replaced those who died, providing support to the commander in chief.”.

As well, Ivan Marquez ruled out any negotiation with the Catholic Church, chosen by the Colombian government as mediators.

This government “kills our spokesman and then says it is ready to talk”. he remarked sarcastically.

“It says it is in favour of a humanitarian agreement and at the same time orders the freeing of hostages by military means. It extradites FARC rebels to the USA and asks that the three US hostages be freed”, Ivan Marquez declared angrily before finally saying that “FARC does not react to media campaigns or one-sided negotiations”.