Colombia's largest far-right paramilitary force said today that it will hold a unilateral ceasefire beginning on Sunday in hopes of starting peace talks.
"In an explicit demonstration of our permanent will to achieve peace in the country, the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) have taken the historic decision of declaring a unilateral ceasefire nationwide," said the outlawed militia, which targets leftist rebels fighting in a 38-year old war.
The announcement, posted on the group's website ( www.colombialibre.org), comes after senior paramilitary commanders held secret meetings in recent weeks with the government's peace envoy to discuss possible peace talks.
President Alvaro Uribe, who took office in August on pledges to get tough with illegal armed groups fighting in a war that kills thousands every year, had said in the past he would hold talks with any group provided it first declared a ceasefire.
Colombia's war pits leftist rebels against right-wing paramilitaries and the US-backed military.
The AUC's move comes after the United States in September charged its top leaders, Carlos Castano and Salvatore Mancuso, on charges of smuggling cocaine. Washington, which lists the group as "terrorist", is seeking the two men's extradition.