Government, Rebels Set Date for Talks

The government and Colombia’s largest rebel group have decided to start new peace talks July 7 to try to end decades of civil war. The setting of the meetings with the 15,000-strong Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, will be announced July 4, the government peace commissioner, Victor G. Ricardo, said after meeting with the rebels. The two sides still have to agree on the membership of an international commission to verify agreements reached in the talks. President Andres Pastrana has made negotiations with the FARC a priority since taking office last year.