UN Calls for Resumption of Peace Talks in Colombia

The United Nations on Saturday called on the Colombian government and local rebel groups to resume peace talks as soon as possible and to find a political solution to the internal armed conflict.

Jan Engeland, special advisor in Colombia to the U.N. Secretary General Koffi Annan, said "The parties to the dispute must return to the negotiations and to reach real agreements."

Annan's envoy met in the detente zone on Saturday with leaders of the guerrilla Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), including the top leader, Manuel Murlanda.

The negotiations, which began in 1998, were suspended by FARC last November to exert pressure on the government of President Andres Pastrana.

Engeland also met with President Pastrana on Friday to push the resumption of talks on a peaceful resolution to the 30-year-long conflict.

People's Daily Online --- http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/