AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Tuesday, 11 August 1998


                Colombian guerrillas will prove
                   that hostages are alive
                -------------------------------


BOGOTA -- Colombia's biggest rebel group has promised to give proof that
129 hostages taken during last week's guerrilla offensive are alive.

A spokesman for the leftist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC)
said in a statement Monday that once all the captives --mostly soldiers
and police officers-- have been properly identified, a list with all their
names will be issued.

He said it would take a few days to complete the task.

More than 200 people perished during last week's attacks on government
forces all across the country by FARC and the National Liberation Army
(ELN), military sources said.

The death toll includes 70 Colombian troops, Radio Caracol said late
Monday, quoting official sources.

The offensive came in the final days of president Ernesto Samper's
administration.

The FARC spokesman said that despite the violence, his group was seeking
peace negotiations with the government, and reiterated a key rebel demand
that all military forces be withdrawn from five southern departments.

Andres Pastrana, Samper's successor sworn in Monday, has agreed to the
troop pullout.

Pastrana last month met with FARC leaders in rebel territory and has made
reaching a peace agreement with FARC and the ELN a top priority.

        © 1998 Agence France-Presse