Colombia rebels extend unilateral cease-fire

 Colombian rebels holding peace talks with the government have extended a unilateral cease-fire, one of their commanders said Thursday.

The commander, Carlos Antonio Lozada, one of the FARC guerrilla group's negotiators at the talks in Havana, did not specify how long the extension would last.

The goal of prolonging the cease-fire - first declared July 20 for one month - is to bolster the negotiations, which have been ongoing since November 2012, Lozada said.

The talks are aimed at ending Latin America's last insurgency, which started back in the 1960s with a peasant revolt over gaping economic inequality in Colombia.

Colombia's civil strife has killed more than 220,000 people and uprooted as many as six million.

"We confirm our decision to maintain the unilateral cease-fire," Lozada said.
  [dailystar.com.lb]
20/8/15
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Related:

• Colombia suspends air strikes on FARC 

• Colombia, FARC reach agreement on de-escalating conflict (officials)

• FARC announces new unilateral ceasefire

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