Bogota- Left-wing Colombian rebels have agreed for the first time to a government proposal to exchange hostages for rebel prisoners, media reports said Sunday. The rebels are prepared to meet government representatives in a "demilitarized zone" for this purpose, said a spokesman for the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia (FARC).

"Many other things" could perhaps be raised as part of these talks and the years of suffering of many families could be brought to an end, said FARC commander Paul Reyes.

Conservative President Alvaro Uribe has suggested the creation of a "demilitarized zone" in the Florida and Pradera districts in the south-west of the country.

The government would want any prisoner exchange to be observed by countries such as Spain, France and Switzerland as well as security guarantees through the presence of an international force.

According to media reports, FARC currently holds 45 soldiers, three US citizens and numerous politicians, including the former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt.

The organization now wants to exchange the hostages for imprisoned FARC rebels. FARC with 17,000 members is Columbia's biggest rebel group, which has been engaged in guerilla warfare against the Colombian state for 40 years.