FARC rebels return to the matter of a humanitarian exchange of hostages for imprisoned guerrillas and state that the agreement "will be established eventually " because this is the wish of the "vast majority of the Colombian people".

In a document published on the rebel website, the Chief Commander of the Eastern wing of FARC explains that "despite efforts to win over and the offers to lessen prison sentences for those who agree to give up their weapons, the Government will eventually fall "when opposed by " the loyalty of rebels such as Simon Trinidad and Sonia, both extradited to the USA."

FARC also states that the a huge military operation " financed and directed " by the US is currently being organised in the south of the country in order to "wipe out some of the leadership of FARC and destroy the southern and eastern wings of FARC, without this objective being reached.

They indicate that discipline among their troops has allowed them to resist such actions as imprisonment in the jails of Colombia, deprived of guarantees of legal procedures and whose defence lawyers have been victimised.

They celebrate "42 years of heroic partisan struggle under the just leadership " of "Commandant Manuel Marulanda" and are proud to belong to the "oldest and most experienced rebel group in the world".

Although statistics vary, most analysts of the conflict agree that FARC hold approx 1000 persons, among them a group of about 60 "exchangeable" hostages: military, police, politicians and three Americans. Former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, kidnapped in February 2002 alongside the vice-presidential candidate Clara Rojas is among this group.

Even though FARC continue to state their opposition to talks with the current Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, re-elected in May, they are not rejecting the idea of a humanitarian agreement.