Colombia is prepared to pull out troops from a small mountainous area to hold talks about exchanging hostages for jailed rebels, the government has said. In what is seen as a U-turn, President Alvaro Uribe said he accepted proposals by an international commission to break a deadlock with the left-wing Farc.

The rebels are holding some 60 hostages - including foreigners - several of whom were seized several years ago.

There was no immediate response from the Farc to Mr Uribe's statement.

The Farc (the Armed Revolutionary Forces of Colombia) wants to exchange hostages for jailed guerrillas.

However, it is far from clear whether the talks will go ahead, as the rebels have been insisting on other pre-conditions as well, correspondents say.

'Concession'

Mr Uribe said the commission - made up of officials from France, Spain and Switzerland - suggested a temporary troop withdrawal in south-western Colombia in a proposal sent to the government and the Farc.

"We accept it because we want to understand the anguish, the pain, the suffering of so many Colombians who have family members who have been kidnapped," Mr Uribe said at a news conference.

"I confess this is a concession on the part of my government," he said.

The region that is proposed to be fully demilitarised is in the area around Pradera, some 270km (170 miles) south-west of the capital, Bogota.

It is considerably smaller than what the rebels have been demanded in order for the talks to proceed.

The Farc is yet to respond to the latest proposal.

Among the hostages are three US nationals and a former Colombian presidential candidate, who has dual Colombian-French nationality.

The Farc has been fighting the government for more than four decades.