Colombia's largest armed rebel groups, the FARC and ELN, have met to strengthen their unification process.

 

　　In a statement, the FARC says "incidents which led to the distancing between the groups" have been overcome.

 

　　The FARC has also stressed the need for all rebel groups to be involved in the ongoing peace talks with the government.

 

　　The latest round of talks between the FARC and Colombian government kicked off in Havana yesterday and is expected to discuss whether the rebel group can enter politics.

 

　　FARC leader Timoleon Jimenez:

 

　　"For this national constituent assembly to fulfill the objectives of peace and social justice for Colombians, it must include representative participation of the insurgency and the democratic participation of all sectors that make up the nation."

 

　　The ELN, Colombia's second largest group, is not part of the peace talks in Cuba.

 

　　The group has clashed with the FARC in the past, but has recently joined forces with the rebel group in armed operations against government targets in Colombia.

 

　　The FARC has been hammering out peace terms with government negotiators since November to bring an end to Latin America's longest-running insurgency that has killed more than 100-thousand people.

 

　　Colombian government wants a peace agreement signed by the end of this year.