
Colombia's government will not hold back militarily or politically in its offensive against Marxist-oriented drugs-funded rebels, President Juan Manuel Santos said on Sunday, after FARC guerrillas said his hostile attitude was threatening peace negotiations.

Representatives of the Colombian government and Marxist-led FARC rebels reconvened in Havana Monday for a third round of peace talks that the administration of President Juan Manuel Santos says need to start moving faster.

Colombia's FARC rebels said their peace talks with the government were going well, but the lead negotiator for President Juan Manuel Santos was more reserved as the two sides finished the first round of meetings aimed at ending their protracted conflict.

Colombian Minister of Defence Juan Carlos Pinzón said that security forces will continue with military operations in the country despite the unilateral two-month cease fire declared by the guerrilla group FARC, which becomes effective Monday 24:00 hours.

Peace talks between Colombia's government and FARC rebels scheduled to start in Cuba this week will be delayed until Monday so negotiators can work on “technical” details, both sides said on Tuesday.

Colombian Defence minister Juan Carlos Pinzón said that the guerrilla group FARC make anywhere from 2.4 to 3.5 billion dollars per annum from the drug trade and estimated they have an army of 8.147 members.

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos defended his signature law that returns land seized by illegal armed groups to peasants after leftist rebels assailed the measure at the start of peace talks.

Colombia's government and Marxist rebels will start peace talks as planned on Wednesday in Oslo in a bid to end nearly half a century of conflict after logistical problems delayed departure of the delegates, Colombia's government said.

Colombia's government and rebel guerrillas will sit down this week in Norway, and later in Cuba, to start peace talks aimed at ending nearly half a century of conflict, a task to which both sides have anticipated their full commitment.

Brazil extended full support ‘in whatever is necessary’ to Colombia’s peace process which is scheduled to begin next 17 October in Norway and will continue in Cuba, announced the Executive Planalto Palace.