[NYTr] Venezuela's Chavez wants talks with Colombian rebels

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

Reuters - August 5, 2007
http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSN05356880

Venezuela's Chavez wants talks with Colombian rebels

CARACAS - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said on Sunday that he is
interested in holding talks with leftist guerrilla groups in
neighboring Colombia to advance a humanitarian accord meant to end over
four decades of war.

Colombian President Alvaro Uribe on Thursday offered guerrillas a safe
haven to hold peace talks if they free kidnapped hostages, the latest
effort to break a deadlock in stalled with the rebels.

During a marathon Sunday broadcast that stretched nearly eight hours,
Chavez said he "would like to speak about politics with the commanders
of the Colombian guerrillas."

"We have always said that in the case of Colombia we are willing to do
what we can do along the path of peace," Chavez told Colombian Senator
Piedad Cordoba, an ally of the leftist leader who requested his
involvement in an appearance on his show.

The United States, which has provided billions in dollars of aid to the
conservative Uribe government, has accused Chavez of collaborating with
Colombia's guerrillas. Chavez denies the accusations and Washington has
not presented evidence to support them.

Violence from Colombia's 40-year conflict has eased as Uribe sent the
armed forces to take over areas once held by armed groups like the
FARC, or the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia.

But the hostage plight has become more acute since last month when the
government blamed the FARC for killing 11 local lawmakers who they had
kidnapped five years ago.

"We would like to help, Piedad, but that of course depends on the
(people involved) over there," Chavez told the senator.

"But given your new request I promise ... to do everything I can."