Colombian governnment pardons rebel youths

The Colombian government has pardoned forty juvenile rebels -- all deserters from the country's largest rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia.

The youths, aged between thirteen and seventeen, will be registered on educational programmes: a government spokesperson Gloria Quiceno said the youngsters would be given a chance to re-integrate and would not be treated as criminals.

The youths had all surrendered to government forces during an operation in Santander in the north-east of the country.

Each of their cases was considered by the interior ministry before pardons were granted.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service