[NYTr] After delays, Chavez to meet with Colombian rebels

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

AP via Yahoo - Oct 12, 2007
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20071012/wl_afp/venezuelacolombiarebels

After Delays, Chavez to meet with Colombian rebels 

BALLENAS, Colombia (AFP) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said Friday
that his previously delayed meeting with Colombian leftist rebels will
take place "in coming days."

Speaking after a meeting here with Colombian President Alvaro Uribe,
Chavez said that his efforts to mediate an exchange of hostages held by
the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, the country's largest rebel
group, for guerrillas held by the government was going well.

"In coming days, we will meet with the FARC, and this meeting will be
of critical importance," Chevez told reporters.

The Venezuelan president said earlier that this meeting "would be
indispensable" because it will be used to present FARC leader Manuel
Marulanda with proposals, on which he had been working.

"We are on the right track," Chavez said. "We face enough difficulties,
but I am confident our determination will help us overcome them."