AFP. 13 January 2002. Colombia's Pastrana rejects rebel peace proposal.
BOGOTA -- President Andres Pastrana rejected a draft proposal set forth by Marxist rebels to renew peace talks, and said the clock was running for rebels to evacuate their Switzerland-sized safe-haven. Rebels from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) will have 48 hours ending at 9:30 pm Monday (0230 GMT Tuesday) to leave the demilitarized zone in southern Colombia they have occupied since November 1998. A visibly tired Pastrana, speaking to the nation at midnight Saturday, said that the rebel draft proposal refers to issues that had already been agreed upon in early meetings. "The draft is not satisfactory," Pastrana said. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Barry Stoller http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ProletarianNews
