FARC stated today that they would only accept an eventual humanitarian exchange of hostages held by them in exchange for the release from prison of all its personnel.

The rebel group also insisted on the required demilitarisation of two villages for the exchange, according to the radio station "Radio Caracol".

"All the exchangeable hostages currently held by us will be freed and FARC demand in return the freeing of all detained rebels", stated Raúl Reyes, chief spokesman for the illegal armed group.

Reyes elaborated in an interview with the press agency "AnnCol" that FARC will not agree to meet envoys from the current government when there is no demilitarised zone, because, according to him, "FARC trust neither Alvaro Uribe nor his officials".

The FARC spokesman stated " we appreciate very much the efforts of the French government, as we appreciate efforts that have been made to influence the Colombian government that refuses systematically an agreement (…): pressure from France, Switzerland, prisoners' relatives, the Catholic Church, former Presidents and others played a large part so that Alvaro Urine had to announce that he was now in favour of the exchange but subsequently became fearful and again stated that it would not be done because he does not want to give guarantees demanded by FARC", he stated.