FARC Hit By Mass Desertion

Bogota, Colombia (AHN) - Government rewards for returning rebels has led to a mass desertion among the ranks of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. Over 2,500 FARC guerillas have given up their arms recently and returned to the fold even if there are threats by the movement's leaders to kill the deserters.

This is the largest number of FARC desertion in its 44 years of history. At its height in 2002, FARC had 17,000 members, now down to 8,000.

The Colombian government said given the large number of FARC rebels leaving the rebel movement, the more than four-decade old internal conflict is expected to end soon. The recapture of former FARC detainee Ingrid Betancourt in July had weakened the movement.

Betancourt visited Colombia on Saturday as part of her South American regional tour to push negotiations with rebel groups. At a press conference at the Colombian capital, Betancourt said, "It is important that we can keep counting on (regional leaders) to help us look for a way, an opening, that will allow for the liberation of those who remain behind."

She met with Colombian President Alvaro Uribe Saturday and will visit Ecuador, Brazil, Venezuela, Bolivia, Chile, Peru and Argentina.