Colombia reiterates readiness to exchange FARC rebels (Roundup)

Mar 28, 2008, 13:27 GMT

Bogota - The Colombian government reiterated Friday that it was ready to exchange left-wing Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebels for hostage Ingrid Betancourt following reports that the state of her health was 'alarming.'

However, there was no indication Friday that President Alvaro Uribe was prepared to create a demilitarized zone in southern Colombia as demanded by the rebels.

This has for years been the stumbling block over which an exchange has failed although both sides insist that they are ready to swap.

Presidential candidate Betancourt, 46, was abducted in 2002 by FARC. Her condition is said to have rapidly deteriorated. Official reports say she is suffering from hepatitis B and 'black fever,' a painful disease transmitted by sand flies that results in skin ulcers.

Meanwhile, authorities were continuing their examination of 30 kilos of depleted uranium after FARC rebels showed interest in buying it. Depleted uranium is a waste product and less radioactive than natural uranium.

A US expert for international security, John Pike, said depleted uranium did not have any military use and was unsuitable for making a 'dirty bomb', adding: 'Any ordinary person has more dangerous substances in their kitchen.'

Colombian police said they had found indications of uranium on a computer belonging to FARC's deputy leader Raul Reues, who was killed in a bomb attack on a rebel camp in neighbouring Ecuador.

The uranium was later seized in a slum in the south of Bogota. FARC may have been keen on selling it on to an unnamed government, police said later.

Observers said if Betancourt were to die in captivity, her death would prove 'uncomfortable' both for the government and the rebels as their standing would be damaged, and Uribe would again be accused of doing too little to secure the release of the hostages.

Uribe has said that while the aim of the deal with FARC was to secure the release of Betancourt and other hostages, FARC must make the first step. Then, judicial authorities would be instructed to wipe the rebels' sentences and release them.

Uribe signed Friday a decree which would at least facilitate the envisaged exchange of hostages, said a peace commissioner in Uribe's government Luis Carlos Restrepo.

Opposition Senator Hector Eli Rojas of the Liberal Party said: 'This step can be understood as attempt by Uribe to arm himself against criticism in view of possible fatal consequences of his policy.'

FARC is believed to have 740 hostages. The group wants to exchange 40 of them - soldiers, police officers and politicians - for 500 of their members currently in prison.

Uribe's conservative government and the rebels have so far been unable to agree on the conditions, time and place for the exchange.