Families of Colombians kidnapped by FARC acknowledged on Friday last the offer rof the National Government but have stressed that now it is important to think more about the human beings detained and less about the logistics of negotiations.

A critic of the government, Gustavo Petro, declared that this time

"The government must be congratulated and FARC must be encouraged to accept the offer keeping in mind those kidnapped".

FARC have promised to free 59 hostages among who are politicians, policemen and military plus three foreigners in exchange for 500 imprisoned rebels. For this to happen FARC require a demilitarised zone in Colombia.

The High Commissioner for Peace, Luis Carlo Rostrepo offered FARC the possibility of completing the negotiations in ten days and suggested a location in the school attached to the barracks in Bolo Azul in the department of the Vallée.

The governor of this district, Angelino Garzon has offered to transfer the government officials of this region to Bolo Azul as a way of insuring that the negotiators nominated by the rebel group will have every guarantee of safety.

The offer by the Uribe government who came to power in 2002 promising the military defeat of rebel groups, is the second one made in the last week to negotiate with them. The government announced last Wednesday it would free a leader of the ELN for a period of three months in order to seek agreement with them.