Colombian rebel delegates leave for peace talks

BOGOTA - The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebel group said Monday it has sent a delegation overseas for peace talks with the government.

The 29-strong delegation was led by "Sargeant Pascua", a FARC founder , and another person known as "Bernardo", the rebel group's negotiator Orlando Jurado Palomino told a Colombian radio program.

Jurado said the talks, to begin Oct 15 in Oslo, Norway, was aimed at endding some 50 years of armed conflicts in the South American country.

To allow the rebels to travel out of the country from cities of Pasto, Neiva and Rionegro, Colombian officials and Interpol had to suspend their arrest warrants, said Jurado.

The rebels traveled aboard flights operated by the International Committee of the Red Cross, said Jurado, adding he could not offer any more details about the three-phase operation required to transport the delegation to their destination due to a confidentiality agreement with the government.

Asked about a possible meeting between top FARC leader Rodrigo Londono, alias "Timochenko" and President Juan Manuel Santos, Jurado said he knew nothing about such an encounter, but would "welcome"  it.

On Aug 27, Santos officially announced the two sides had agreed to discuss the possibility of the rebels laying down their arms and rejoining the society in exchange for concessions from the government.

Two days after talks begin, that is on Oct 17, the parties will offer a joint report on their progress.