FARC rebels are calling on the people of Colombia to vote in the presidential elections of 28 May in order to block Alvaro Uribe's re-election.

On 12 May, Paul Reyes, the FARC second in command called on their supporters to participate in the presidential elections on 28 May by voting for very other candidate except Alvaro Uribe, the current president.

"We are not against elections and we even think that at the moment it is necessary to vote in the elections and to vote for every other candidate apart from the current fascist and paramilitary president (Editor's note: Alvaro Uribe)", he stated, adding "It is not a case of giving more guarantees to the opposition but we call on all Colombians to vote because of the serious danger facing our nation should Alvaro Uribe be re-elected president".

None of the current six candidates have been endorsed by Paul Reyes as the favourite candidate of FARC.

Alvaro Uribe the favourite.

FARC have already announced several times that they refuse to take part in any talks regarding peace or a humanitarian exchange as long as they would be dealing with President Uribe, in power since 2002.

The FARC spokesperson has not ruled out in the future, in a " pluralist, patriotic and democratic" framework, its participation in a new government.

According to latest surveys, Alvaro Uribe has a comfortable lead over his rivals as the elections approach with 56% of voting intentions, as against 15% for the Liberal Party candidate (in opposition) Horacio Serpia and 13% for Carlos Gaviria, the left wing candidate.

FARC rebels number about 17,000 men. They demand the release from prison of 500 of their activists and in exchange offer freedom to 58 hostages, military and police personnel, among them three Americans and the French-Colombian Ingrid Betancourt, former Green Party candidate in the Colombian presidential elections, who was kidnapped on 23 February 2002.