The Colombian president, Andres Pastrana, has said he trusts Manuel Marulanda, the leader of the country's biggest rebel group, and believes he can work with him to end more than three decades of civil conflict.

Mr Pastrana is due to meet Mr Marulanda, who heads the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, at a jungle location controlled by the guerrillas on Thursday.

The two men will try to lay the groundwork for formal peace talks.

In an interview with Reuters news agency, Mr Pastrana acknowledged that he would be taking a risk when he enters the rebels' stronghold in the town of San Vicente del Caguan but said he felt safe.