The government of Colombia says it has completed the withdrawal of all police and soldiers from a rebel stronghold covering much of the south of the country.

The move is an effort to bring about the first peace talks between the government and rebels in six years.

Five townships are being turned over to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia or FARC for ninety days.

The rebels -- whose stated goals are land redistribution and social reform -- have been in conflict with the Colombian state for more than thirty years.

They act as the de facto government in as much as a third of the country.