FARC rebels are to examine in Ecuador details of a hostage exchange said to be "imminent" at least that has been reported on Monday last by the La Hora newspaper in Quito, quoting an anonymous source from FARC.

According to the newspaper the agreement between rebels and the Colombian government "will be conducted speedily and talks about this have started in Ecuador".

Without further details La Hora stated that " in this way this confirms several reports, published during previous months about the " speedy liberation of many of the 55 Colombians and three Americans held hostage".

The journalist confirmed that there had been negotiations in the last few days between a Representative of the French government and Raul Reyes, the second in command of FARC.

"Secret talks have been held on the Colombian-Ecuadorian border," states La Hora.

In an interview with AFP in Bogotá, one of the sponsors of the humanitarian agreement confirmed the meeting and that negotiations for the freeing of hostages are progressing well

"I know a new contact was made two weeks ago and I am sure of that, but I don't know the details," said Carlos Lozano, the director of the Communist newspaper Voice of Bogotá, who is a supporter of the humanitarian agreement with eh Catholic Church and Human Rights organisations.

The Colombian government would have sanctioned discussions between FARC and the French government representative.