Peace Proposals Colombia

President Bush on Tuesday rejected a plea from Colombian President Andres Pastrana for the United States to join the peace talks that his government is holding with Marxist guerrillas. But in their 45-minute meeting, Bush also vowed to work with Congress to expand trade with Colombia as a way to stimulate lawful commerce in that beleaguered nation. A spokesman for Pastrana said afterward that the Colombian president was thrilled by Bush's offer to increase trade.

The Colombian peace process collapsed Wednesday, sparking fears of a bloody new chapter in this country's long civil war. In a nationally televised address, President Andres Pastrana announced that the government is breaking off talks with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, known as the FARC. Pastrana said the leftist rebels weren't negotiating in good faith and gave the group 48 hours to evacuate a demilitarized zone created three years ago for the talks.

The second-largest guerrilla force in Colombia has agreed to open peace talks with the government in June to end 34 years of fighting and sabotage of critical oil refineries and pipelines, officials confirmed Wednesday. In secret talks in Madrid, international representatives for the National Liberation Army, known by the initials ELN, signed off last month on a preparatory meeting for a national peace convention.

President Bush on Tuesday rejected a plea from Colombian President Andres Pastrana for the United States to join the peace talks that his government is holding with Marxist guerrillas. But in their 45-minute meeting, Bush also vowed to work with Congress to expand trade with Colombia as a way to stimulate lawful commerce in that beleaguered nation. A spokesman for Pastrana said afterward that the Colombian president was thrilled by Bush's offer to increase trade.

Colombian guerrillas and government representatives have scheduled a meeting Wednesday in neighboring Venezuela to resume peace talks begun in June. Despite ongoing talks, guerrillas have intensified attacks. Last week, 11 people were killed in a fight between members of the Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARC), the largest guerrilla army, and a civilian self-defense group in rural Tolima province.

The Colombian peace process collapsed Wednesday, sparking fears of a bloody new chapter in this country's long civil war. In a nationally televised address, President Andres Pastrana announced that the government is breaking off talks with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, known as the FARC. Pastrana said the leftist rebels weren't negotiating in good faith and gave the group 48 hours to evacuate a demilitarized zone created three years ago for the talks.

The second-largest guerrilla force in Colombia has agreed to open peace talks with the government in June to end 34 years of fighting and sabotage of critical oil refineries and pipelines, officials confirmed Wednesday. In secret talks in Madrid, international representatives for the National Liberation Army, known by the initials ELN, signed off last month on a preparatory meeting for a national peace convention.

Colombian guerrillas and government representatives have scheduled a meeting Wednesday in neighboring Venezuela to resume peace talks begun in June. Despite ongoing talks, guerrillas have intensified attacks. Last week, 11 people were killed in a fight between members of the Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARC), the largest guerrilla army, and a civilian self-defense group in rural Tolima province.