Colombia landmines: Farc to help armyclear minefields

Colombia's government and Farc rebels have
agreed to work together to remove landmines in
rural areas of the country where they have
fought since the 1960s.
The announcement was made in Cuba, where
both sides have been engaged in peace talks for
more than two years.
Under the deal, Farc rebels will work alongside
members of the military to remove the
landmines and other explosive devices.
Colombia is one of the most heavily mined
countries in the world.
More than 11,000 people have been injured or
killed by landmines in Colombia over the past 15
years.
"The proposal for demining is a first step, but a
giant step toward making peace," said
Colombian government chief negotiator
Humberto de la Calle.
'No weapons'
President Juan Manuel Santos welcomed the
news, which gives his government's peace
efforts another boost.
"I would like to congratulate our negotiating
team and acknowledge of the Farc are doing,
because this is bringing us closer to the shared
objective of reaching peace in Colombia," he
said. The demining and decontamination operation will
be overseen by experts from Norway, one of the
countries that has been facilitating the peace
negotiations.
The Farc members involved in the effort will not
wear uniforms or carry weapons, said Mr De la
Calle.
The operation was announced in a joint
statement in Havana, marking the end of a round
of negotiations that focused on the rights of
victims.
Farc negotiators have been engaged in peace
talks with the Colombian government since
November 2012.
They have reached partial agreements on a
number of issues, including on the drugs trade,
land reform and political participation.
More than 220,000 people are estimated to have
died in five decades of conflict.