A permanent ceasefire is taking effect in Colombia, in the latest step to bring an end to 52 years of bloody combat between the government and the country's biggest rebel group.

The Colombian government and rebel group FARC have reached a deal on a bilateral ceasefire that would be the last major step toward ending one of the world's longest wars.

Eamon Gilmore believes Europe can offer tangible support to Colombia as it embarks on its peace process, writes Ann Cahill Europe Correspondent

Colombia’s Marxist FARC rebels have invited the newly-crowned Miss Universe Paulina Vega, a native of the country’s Caribbean coast, to attend their peace negotiations with the government, in a bid to end 50 years of fighting.

Colombia’s government has rebuffed a unilateral truce declared by the country’s largest rebel group, saying conditions demanded by the guerrillas are unacceptable until a peace deal is reached.

Colombia and leftist FARC rebels have reached a deal on land reform, one of the most contentious items in negotiations aimed at ending five decades of insurgency.

The Colombian government and the country’s biggest rebel group have reached a deal on land reform – one of their main bones of contention – after months of slow-moving peace talks in Cuba’s capital.

Four Chinese oil workers employed by a British company have been freed in the southern jungles where they were kidnapped 17 months ago.

A suitcase bomb exploded near a town square where 5,000 children were celebrating Halloween, killing two suspected bombers and injuring 37 people, including two boys who were in a critical condition in hospital today, authorities in Colombia said.

A judge has revoked the acquittal of a leftist guerrilla accused in the killings of three Americans in Colombia in 1999 and ordered his arrest, the Attorney General’s Office said.

Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez said he is willing to help Colombia's government and leftist FARC rebels broker a peace deal and congratulated both sides on taking steps to end the Western Hemisphere's longest-running conflict.

Colombia’s government has opened “exploratory talks” with the country’s main rebel group to try to end a stubborn 50-year-old conflict.

Indigenous people angry at being forced to live in the crossfire of Colombia's long-running civil conflict jeered President Juan Manuel Santos as he visited their war-ravaged south western region.

A notorious arms dealer dubbed the “Merchant of Death” has been sentenced to 25 years in prison following his conviction on terrorism charges.

Colombia's largest rebel group said it was ready to start freeing 10 soldiers and police officers who have been held prisoner for up to 14 years.

Colombia’s second largest leftist rebel group is offering to halt offensive actions if the government agrees to peace talks.

A lunchtime bomb exploded outside a police station in Colombia’s Pacific port city of Tumaco, killing at six people and wounding 71.

The leader of Colombia's main rebel group, Alfonso Cano, has been killed in combat hours after his nearby camp was bombed, authorities have said.

A rebel attack has killed at least 10 soldiers in Colombia’s north east, the military said.

Colombian rebels released a fourth captive but a planned handover of two others did not occur.

COLOMBIA’S military killed the field marshal and number two commander of the country’s main leftist rebel group in bombing raids, authorities said.

An appeal court in Thailand ruled today to extradite suspected Russian arms smuggler Viktor Bout to the United States, effectively ending a nearly 25-year chase for the man dubbed The Merchant of Death.

The presidents of Colombia and Venezuela agreed to restore diplomatic relations severed nearly three weeks ago by Caracas, smoothing over a dispute over allegations Colombian rebels have camps in Venezuela.

Juan Manuel Santos, Colombia’s 59th president, declared himself open to dialogue with rebels in the hope of ending his country’s nearly 50 year conflict.

A former defence minister from a powerful political clan who oversaw a major weakening of leftist rebels won Colombia’s presidency, routing an eccentric outsider in a runoff.

A car bomb ripped open cars and storefronts in the administrative centre of Colombia’s Pacific port of Buenaventura, killing six people and wounding more than 30, authorities said.

President Hugo Chavez accused Colombia and the United States of plotting to set up a fake rebel camp on Venezuelan soil to discredit his government.

Hooded men in uniforms without insignia shot and killed 12 members of the Awa indigenous group, including five children, on a reserve in a region plagued by the cocaine trade, Colombian authorities said.

President Hugo Chavez told his military to be prepared for a possible confrontation with Colombia, warning that Bogota’s plans to increase the US military presence at its bases posed a threat to Venezuela.

Colombia’s largest rebel group wants to exchange the remains of an official who died in its custody for those of two rebels.

Left-wing rebels freed the last known foreign hostage held in Colombia, an ailing 69-year-old Swede kidnapped nearly two years ago from the ranch where he had retired.

The wife of alleged Russian arms smuggler Viktor Bout testified today that he is an “honest” businessman who ran a legitimate air cargo business.

Colombian guerrillas have offered to free an ex-governor, a former politician and four other hostages to help jump-start talks on a prisoner swap.

Madonna has postponed the first of four shows in Argentina - just one week after kicking off the Latin American leg of her world tour.

Madonna met with a president and a former guerrilla-held hostage at Argentina’s presidential palace, where she filmed Evita 12 years ago.

A 62-year-old politician who was held captive for eight years by Colombian rebels has walked free from the jungle, along with the young guerrilla commander who had been his jailer.

An ex-congressman abducted eight years ago by leftist Colombian rebels has been freed in a military operation.

The US today accused three members of anti-American Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez's inner circle of aiding Colombian rebels by supplying arms and helping drug traffickers. Washington also expelled Mr Chavez's ambassador as a diplomatic clash intensified

Pop superstar Shakira will vocalise her effort to free hostages held by a Colombian rebel group - when she performs in her native country on Sunday.

Hostages freed in a daring helicopter rescue said today their gruelling existence as captives of Colombian rebels worsened in recent months as government troops closed in and supplies became more scarce.

Colombian spies tricked leftist rebels into handing over kidnapped presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt and three US military contractors today in a daring helicopter rescue. No shots were fired during the rescue.

COLOMBIA freed Ingrid Betancourt and three US military contractors from leftist guerrillas after military spies tricked rebels into giving them up without a single injury, the defence minister said. In all, the operation freed 15 hostages including Colombian soldiers and police, Juan Manuel Santos said.