FARC accused of abuses

An international human rights group has accused rebels of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, the FARC, of committing serious abuses against civilians in its campaign against the state.

The group, Human Rights Watch, criticised the guerrillas for killing and kidnaping civilians, displacing people from their homes, torturing prisoners and recruiting minors.

It said such tactics were complicating efforts to reach a peace settlement with the government.

But it praised the release last month of nearly four hundred police and soldiers being held by the FARC.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service