ICC probes Colombia on war crimes

Thousands have died in Colombia's 40-year-old civil war

The International Criminal Court has asked the Colombian government for details of crimes against humanity which may have occurred in the country.

Colombia is suffering from a four-decade-old civil war which sees about 3,000 people killed every year.

Colombia's ICC representative has said his government will fully co-operate with the tribunal.

The ICC considers cases of genocide or crimes against humanity committed since it started work in 2002.

'Thousands killed'

The ICC has also asked for details of government proposals for a truce with the main right-wing paramilitary group, the AUC.

Some human rights groups say provisions of the bill mean serious past abuses will go unpunished.

The information received so far indicates thousands of people have been killed, disappeared, kidnapped and forcibly displaced since 1 November, 2002 Luis Moreno, ICC chief prosecutor

If the bill is passed, paramilitary commanders are expected to face a maximum of 10 years in prison.

Colombia's civil war has seen leftist rebel groups fighting right-wing paramilitary factions and government troops.

All parties have been accused of abuses.

"The information received so far indicates thousands of people have been killed, disappeared, kidnapped and forcibly displaced since 1 November 2002," said Luis Moreno, an Argentine, who is the court's chief prosecutor.

Colombia was one of the signatories to an accord which set up the ICC based in The Hague, Netherlands.