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Colombian president suspends peace talks with FARC

Colombia's President Juan Manuel Santos took the decision after General Ruben Ario Alzate was kidnapped

Colombia's President Juan Manuel Santos (center) EPA/PRESIDENCY OF COLOMBIA

Colombia's President Juan Manuel Santos (center)

© EPA/PRESIDENCY OF COLOMBIA

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BOGOTA, November 17. /TASS/. Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos declared that he suspended peace talks with The Revolutionary Forces of Columbia group (FARC) in Havana following the kidnapping of Ruben Ario Alzate, the army general, by the members of the group. The president delivered the statement at the emergency meeting with the heads of defense and law enforcement agencies.

"Tomorrow negotiators were to travel to another round of talks in Havana," Santos said. "The talks are suspended until these people are released."

Santos tasked the Defense Minister Juan Carlos Pinzon to go to the scene of the accident to sort out the situation. According to the information available, Alzate was captured in Las Mercedes, Choco. The FARC rebels set an ambush and captured three people. The armed forces are searching for the general at the moment. However, the situation is worsened by the fact that he was captured in a hard-to-reach area that can be accessed only by river.

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